Latest news with #Noye
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Inside Kenneth Noye's life post Brink's-Mat heist as BBC's The Gold returns
Inside Kenneth Noye's life post Brink's-Mat heist as BBC's The Gold returns Kenneth Noye was a key player in BBC's The Gold The Gold season two will be hitting screens today (June 8), airing this evening on BBC One at 9pm, as well as being available as a boxset on the BBC iPlayer, reports the Express. The story will see the investigation into the remaining half of the stolen Brink's-Mat gold and the police pursuit for justice to recover the huge haul. The Gold delves into the events surrounding the heist, where a group of armed men accidentally discovered £26million in gold bullion while attempting to rob the Brink's-Mat security depot near Heathrow Airport. Many of the main players from the first outing will be back in the frame, including criminal Kenneth Noye (played by Jack Lowden). Viewers are eager to learn more about the real-life story behind the world's largest heist and the subsequent fates of some of the key figures portrayed in the TV series, including Noye. The Gold is based on the real-life Brink's-Mat heist (Image: BBC ) Article continues below What happened to Kenneth Noye? After Brink's-Mat Noye was handed a 14-year prison sentence for his involvement in the robbery and was ordered to pay fines totalling £500,000 along with £200,000 in costs. However, he was released from prison in 1994 after serving just eight years of his sentence. In 1996, Noye fatally stabbed another motorist on an M25 slip road in Kent before fleeing the country. Two years later, he was located living in Spain and extradited to face trial for the crime. During the trial, Noye maintained that he had acted in self-defence during a fight with the victim, Stephen Cameron. After being found guilty by a jury, he was given a life sentence but was released on licence in 2019. Noye was filmed publicly speaking for the first time in 2023 when he commented on a portrait of himself sitting on a pile of gold bars, The Sun reported. Jack Lowden as Kenneth Noye in The Gold (Image: BBC ) In the video, Noye praised the painting which put a light spin on his involvement in the Brink's-Mat robbery. The painting also depicted a smelter in the background on one side and an aeroplane jetting off to a sunny location on the other. Former drug lord Stephen Mee painted the picture in 2011, with the artist and Noye discussing it at an exhibition held by the charity the AP Foundation to assist rehabilitating offenders. True crime author, journalist and writer Clarkson commented on the portrayal of Noye in the BBC series back in 2023: "He's a lot shorter than the actor. He is very down to earth and he is two people like most criminals. The Gold season 2 sees the return of Kenneth Noye (Image: BBC ) "He is at least two people. There's a fun bloke who loves partying, who's very good with - in his parlance - 'the birds' - and he's a good neighbour." Clarkson continued: "But the other side of him was the cold-blooded criminal, who we know all about, who's killed two people separately." Speaking about Noye's life post-prison, Clarkson said: "He gets out and is working on a book and he's going from being a reclusive criminal, who hates journalists, to the Prince Harry of the underworld, basically." Regarding Noye's apparent change of heart, the author stated: "He seems to have changed his complete attitude." Clarkson stated: "He was anti-journalists, reclusive, workaholic - renowned as a criminal workaholic who loves a scheme, loves a deal, going back to before Brink's-Mat." He continued: "But now, we're supposed to accept he's rehabilitated. I'll leave that for others to decide if he has and he also wants to be a bit of a celebrity - that surprised me enormously." Clarkson added: "For him, it's something he's thought through very carefully because he does nothing - apart from killing people - without thinking very carefully about it." Jack Lowden as Kenneth Noye in The Gold (Image: BBC ) The author argued that the BBC drama had portrayed real-life figures like Noye and Johnny Palmer in a softer light, transforming them into "likely lads" and "almost happy-go-lucky" characters. However, he noted that in some respects, the show did get surprisingly close to the true story. Clarkson pointed out smaller inaccuracies, such as the interior of Noye's house appearing more "lord of the manor" than the actual shag pile carpets and beige decor in his real home, which Clarkson had seen. He concluded: "I want to be more critical of the show than I really feel I can be. I didn't watch it for a bit. I could have watched it ages ago. Article continues below "But then I realised it is good and I realised that most people who watch TV are in their 60s and this seems to appeal to them. But there's another market that finds it fascinating because of the era in which it's set and the attitudes and the differences and even the retro outfits." The Curse of Brink's-Mat by Wensley Clarkson is available to buy now The Gold seasons 1 & 2 are streaming on the BBC iPlayer now
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aussie city's new traffic light feature sparks debate: 'Overkill'
An Aussie city's 'amazing' new road feature has sparked debate among locals, with some drivers hitting out at the 'ridiculous' addition. A bicycle head-start light has been installed at an intersection in the heart of Hobart, allowing those who prefer to travel on two wheels a little leeway. The recent move is part of the city council's two-year trial project to improve a 700-metre stretch of Collins Street, which also includes additional separate bicycle lanes, roadside dining areas and parking spaces. Authorities have also requested a slower speed limit for the busy stretch. 'Collins Street has been identified and prioritised for pedestrian and cycling use as outlined in the Inner Hobart Transport Network Operations Plan," Neil Noye, City of Hobart's director of strategic and regulatory services, told Yahoo News. It's a joint project between the Tasmanian Government and the City of Hobart. 'The installed lights on Collins Street — as part of the two-year Transforming Collins Street trial — at the intersection of Harrington and Barrack streets provide greater safety for all road users by allowing cyclists to clear the intersection first before vehicles get their green light," Noye said The head-start traffic light has already been praised online, with 'stoked' locals sharing their excitement over the 'start of better things to come in Tassie'. Bicycle Network Tasmania said the addition 'enables people riding and walking to get ahead of the traffic and be seen by turning vehicles'. However, not everyone is convinced, with drivers arguing they have been stuck waiting 'for the cyclists lights without a bike in sight'. 'Overkill and another car delay system,' one man said. Bicycle head-start lights have been used in Australia for more than a decade and are 'very common in Melbourne', a spokesperson for Bicycle Network, the country's biggest bike riding organisation, told Yahoo. 'There was a time when crashes were common — the light would turn green, the bikes would shoot of across the intersection, but a car would run left and strike the people on bikes going straight ahead,' they said. The signal was developed to 'give bikes several seconds to get out ahead where the drivers who were turning left could see them'. 'It has proven a very successful initiative in terms reducing crashes,' the spokesperson said. Similarly, road safety authorities have implemented bicycle boxes where cyclists can position themselves in front of queued cars at a red light, also providing them with an advantage at an intersection. 'This is used where there is no head start phase: when the lights for all traffic turn green, bikes are several metres ahead of the car lanes. And the effect is similar to head-starts — a reduction in crashes between bikes and cars at the start of the green phase,' the spokesperson told Yahoo. 'There may be a short period of adjustment for road users in Hobart, but it will not be long before they intuitively understand the function, and it becomes a routine part of driving safely. We will eventually find that one or the other of these two solutions are universally used at most intersections on bikes routes in Australia.' 📸 Cyclist's heated exchange with driver over 'deliberate' roadside act 👮 'Unbelievable' moment cyclist swerves in front of driver draws police response 🛴 Aussie councils push for more $136 fines for 'dangerous' footpath act Cyclists and motorists have long battled it out on Aussie roads, with tensions often exploding between the two — including an amusing tussle involving a postie that was caught on camera last year. According to a survey conducted by the Tasmanian Government in 2023, there are a rising number of cyclists in Hobart, racking up 4,800 trips each day — a 50 per cent increase since 2019. At least 450 of those trips were conducted on Collins Street, the City of Hobart states on its website. 'Hobartians riding bikes is good for their health and good for motorists, as it results in less cars on the road and helps traffic flow better,' officials said. 'We know the number one barrier to more people taking up cycling or any form of active transport is safety, something which separated cycle lanes will help address.' Others states have also seen an increase in bike riders, with an average growth of about six per cent across the country, the Bicycle Network revealed last year. The largest increase in bicycle or e-bike commuting was recorded in Tasmania, followed by NSW. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
