M25 killer Kenneth Noye ‘over the moon’ with BBC depiction of murderous thug as ‘working class hero’
EXCLUSIVE: M25 killer Kenneth Noye is ‘over the moon’ with new BBC series depicting murderous thug who helped launder £26M in gold from Brink’s-Mat robbery before killing man in road rage attack as ‘working class hero’
- Kenneth Noye ‘over the moon’ with BBC depiction of him as ‘working class hero’
- Noye, 75, has been pictured for first time since BBC drama Gold aired last night
Road rage murderer Kenneth Noye is ‘over the moon’ with the BBC portrayal of his life of crime in last night’s drama ‘Gold’.
Noye, 75, seen here for the first time since the programme aired, has told friends he was happy that the BBC had shown him to be more of a cheeky chappie rather than just a cold-blooded killer.
It is understood Noye was able to access and read the script for ‘Gold’ before transmission and was approving.
One commentator today said the drama ‘turned the murderous thug Noye into BBC’s latest working class hero.’
But a friend of Noye, who has also served time, said: ‘Kenny is over the moon. The media always put him up as a 24/7 ruthless thug, but he wants people to accept that he has served his time and lives his life quietly and is in a loving relationship.’
Road rage murderer Kenneth Noye is ‘over the moon’ with the BBC portrayal’s of his life of crime in last night’s drama ‘Gold.’ Pictured: Noye, 75, for the first time since the programme aired
Kenneth Noye is ‘over the moon’ with the BBC portrayal’s of his life of crime in last night’s drama ‘Gold’
A new six-part BBC drama explored the Brink’s-Mat gold robbery (Pictured: Actor Jack Lowden starred as Noye)
He added: ‘Kenny says people come up to him in the streets and shake his hand.
‘It’s the same hand that he stabbed two people to death with. He says the public have forgiven him and he never wants to risk being in trouble again.
‘There is a book about his life out soon and he hopes that will help people understand how he has left that criminal life behind.
‘All he does these days is work out every day in the gym and spend time with his girlfriend.’
Noye has been dating self-confessed ‘Hippy Chick’ Michelle Budd for more than a year and the source said he is desperate to whisk her away to a Mexican beach and to the home and studio the late artist Frida Kahlo, one of her heroines.
One commentator today said the drama ‘turned the murderous thug Noye into BBC’s latest working class hero’
A friend of Noye, who has also served time, said: ‘Kenny is over the moon. The media always put him up as a 24/7 ruthless thug, but he wants people to accept that he has served his time and lives his life quietly and is in a loving relationship’
‘He is out on parole and can’t travel abroad as Kenny has not been granted a passport. He hopes his new public image will help the cops see that he is no longer a threat and basically an old man trying to catch up with the years he lost while in the slammer.’
Noye and Michelle , who helps children needing therapy, are rarely out of eachother’s sights.
Glamourous granny Michelle is nearly 30 years younger than the career criminal.
Because of his travel restrictions, the furthest they have been able to travel is a caravan park on the Isle of Sheppey.
Horse-loving Mrs Budd, 48, met the notorious gangster at a roadside hamburger outlet near her home, friends said.
Stephen Cameron, 21, was murdered by Stephen Noye in a road rage incident in 1996
Noye had told his two sons and wife Brenda how he’d been embroiled in a fight after a road rage incident on the M25 (Pictured: Police at the scene of the ‘roadrage’ killing on the M25)
They have told only close friends about their acquaintance and have distributed a photograph of them together.
The mother-of-three’s closeness to Noye has surprised her inner circle who find his presence in her life ‘distasteful.’
One said: ‘He is violent man and everyone know about him being a murderer who has spent much of his life as a criminal and in prison.
‘Michelle is a very respectable, nice woman who does a lot to help children, many who have special needs.
Undated Kent Police handout of Kenneth Noye, who was found guilty of the murder of Stephen Cameron, 21, during a road rage fight on the M25 Swanley interchange in Kent on May 19, 1996
Spanish policemen escort Briton Kenneth Noye, center, to a Cadiz courthouse Saturday, August 29, 1998 after his arrest the night before in Barbate, southern Spain
Kent Police issued picture of Kenneth Noye in custody at Dartford Police Station on May 20, 1999
‘He is a distasteful figure and I wonder what she is thinking being seen around with him.’
Mrs Budd runs the Kent Equine Facilitated Learning Centre at stables in Dartford, Kent which promotes ‘relaxation through horse care.’
She also advocates helping those with anxiety and ‘connecting with nature, managing emotions, and natural crafts.’
In online posts Mrs Budd describes herself as an Equine learning coach and is a qualified physical education teacher.
She offers: ‘Help for people looking for answers support with relationships, work, progress, acceptance, forgiveness, trauma addicts and autistic children.’
Another one of her organisations is called the ‘Sun moon and stars healing community.’
Her friend added: ‘She is all about peace and love and calls herself a ‘Hippy Chick’ on Facebook. She has a gentle and caring nature. It is all about being kind and reaching into your inner self.
‘Noye is evil, nasty and violent and has killed two people.
‘It is hard for me to see them together. They are like chalk and cheese when it comes to their individual personalities.’
Noye was living on a 20-acre estate in West Kingsdown, Kent, when he stabbed undercover police officer DC John Fordham ten times in 1985 after finding him hiding in the grounds.
The officer was watching the underworld fence as the Flying Squad probed Noye on suspicion of handling bullion from the £26million Brink’s-Mat raid at Heathrow in 1983.
Noye and Brian Reader, of Hatton Garden heist fame, were charged with murder but acquitted by an Old Bailey jury.
But 11 bullion bars were found at Noye’s home and he and Reader were convicted in 1986 of handling stolen gold. He was given 14 years and fined £500,000 and £200,000 costs.
He was given a 25 years sentence for murdering Stephen Cameron.
21, on a slip road on the M25, in May 1996.
After murdering Stephen, Noye left the country in a private jet provided by late Brink’s-Mat pal John Palmer.
He made his way to southern Spain where he was captured in August 1998.
His arrest came the day after Stephen’s girlfriend Danielle, who witnessed the murder, was secretly taken by British police to the area and identified Noye from a distance. She remains under witness protection.
Noye was extradited back to Britain in May 1999 and went on trial at the Old Bailey the following year where Danielle bravely gave evidence.
Noye is separated from his wife Brenda Tremain, with whom he has two adult sons, Kevin and Brett.
Last year he was reported to have been back with his former love Karen Bricker-Jones, a woman he first dated 40 years before.
But the reunion didn’t last long and he has moved on with his Hippy Chick.