Road-rage killer Kenneth Noye will be released after nearly 20 years in prison.

Noye, 71, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2000 after knifing 21-year-old Stephen Cameron to death on a motorway slip-road near Swanley four years earlier. He went on the run following the killing in 1996.

Last year the notorious gangster was moved to open prison HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey, and was the subject of a parole review this week.

A statement from the Parole Board confirmed: "The parole board has directed the release of Kenneth Noye following an oral hearing.

"Parole board decisions are solely focused on whether someone would represent a significant risk to the public after release.

"The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original evidence and any evidence of behaviour change.

"We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority."

Noye, who had stabbed an undercover policeman to death in the grounds of his mansion 11 years earlier, killed Mr Cameron following a trivial disagreement.

He cut in front of a van driven by Mr Cameron's fiancée and when the electrician shook his head, Noye stormed over and punched him before returning and stabbing him in the heart.

In 1985 he stabbed undercover officer John Fordham 10 times but was cleared by a jury on the grounds of self-defence.

A year later he got 14 years for handling some of the £26 million Brink’s-Mat robbery gold.

Following Mr Cameron's murder he fled to Spain, eventually being extradited in 1998.

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