Bieber is serving a whole life sentence for his crimes

David Bieber shot Pc Ian Broadhurst dead and attempted to murder two other policemen in Leeds on Boxing Day 2003.

The former US marine has been trying to reclaim the money since his conviction at Newcastle Crown Court last year.

On Monday, West Yorkshire Police said there was no evidence to suggest the money was gained illegally and they had agreed it should be returned to Bieber.

The cash was seized during Bieber's arrest at a bed and breakfast in Gateshead.

'Overwhelming support'

A spokesman for his solicitors, Garstangs, confirmed that the police had agreed to return the cash after a hearing at Leeds Magistrates' Court last week.

Bieber was given concurrent life sentences in December 2004 for the murder of Pc Broadhurst and the attempted murders of Pcs Neil Roper and James Banks.

Jailing him, Mr Justice Moses told Bieber he had shown "no remorse or understanding of the brutality" of his crime and must spend his life in prison.

It later emerged he is wanted by police in Florida over a plot to hire a hitman to kill a love rival.

In a statement issued through his solicitors, Bieber said from Whitemoor prison in Cambridgeshire: "The police agreed to return all my property on numerous occasions but never did.

"There was no reason for this to have gone to court."

The killer also said he was "overwhelmed" by the support and encouragement he had received from the people of Yorkshire and the rest of the country.