Ronnie Biggs

[Ducatiboy749]

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/article.aspx?cp-documentid=148381681

A new photograph of Ronnie Biggs shows the ailing Great Train Robber lying bare-chested in his hospital bed.

Biggs, 79, who was refused parole last week, is being treated at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital after being moved from a nearby prison.

In the picture, sent to MPs by his legal adviser Giovanni Di Stefano, he appears frail with his arms heavily bandaged and tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.

His son, Michael, said Biggs had pneumonia, plus fractures of the hip, pelvis and spine and could die if he does not respond to treatment. He has suffered three strokes and cannot eat, speak or walk, according to Mr Di Stefano.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw rejected a parole board recommendation that Biggs be released, saying he was "wholly unrepentant" about his crimes.
Biggs, from Lambeth, south London, was a member of a 15-strong gang which attacked the Glasgow to London mail train at Ledburn, Buckinghamshire, in August 1963, and made off with £2.6 million in used banknotes.

He was given the 30-year sentence but after 15 months he escaped from Wandsworth prison in south-west London by climbing a 30ft wall and fleeing in a furniture van.

He was on the run for more than 30 years, living in Spain, Australia and Brazil, before returning to the UK voluntarily in 2001 in search of medical treatment.
He was locked up in Belmarsh high security prison on his return before being moved to a specialist medical unit at Norwich prison.

The decision means Biggs will not be free to celebrate his 80th birthday on August 8, 46 years to the day since the raid.



Time to let sleeping dogs lie me thinks, although the form Jack Straw's in lately, hardly fills me with confidence.

[NeverOffside]

Not that I particularly give a fuck either way, but shouldn't he serve his full term? I heard that he'd served as much as the other robbers, but as he escaped, he should be made to serve the full sentence.

Did he come back to the UK just to get free medical treatment (in prison)?

[Ducatiboy749]

Not that I particularly give a fuck either way, but shouldn't he serve his full term. I heard that he'd served as much as the other robbers, but as he escaped, he should be made to serve the full sentence.

Did he come back to the UK just to get free medical treatment (in prison)?

I may be wrong on this one mate but I think that's a tabloid myth.

I suppose it's down to how much you want to seee a frail and quite frankly pathetic figure of a man suffer I suppose.

Don't really see the point personally.

[NeverOffside]

Not that I particularly give a fuck either way, but shouldn't he serve his full term. I heard that he'd served as much as the other robbers, but as he escaped, he should be made to serve the full sentence.

Did he come back to the UK just to get free medical treatment (in prison)?

I may be wrong on this one mate but I think that's a tabloid myth.

I suppose it's down to how much you want to seee a frail and quite frankly pathetic figure of a man suffer I suppose.

Don't really see the point personally.

I heard his son on Radio 5. He had a lot of valid points, but he wasn't getting much sympathy from the callers. Having said that, most people in this country are ignorant, so it's no surprise. :rolleyes:

I'm inclined to agree with his son, that this is a spiteful political decision because Biggs lauded it over the establishment when he escaped.

[vin]

He'll go from a prison hospital to a "normal" hospital. I suspect they are probably exaggerating some of his illness. If he does get released I would expect some improvements in his condition!

I'm quite cynical...

[Taylor]

It's a fucking disgrace but no less than I expect from that corrupt twat. So what if he won't beg for forgiveness?

30 years for a robbery is a piss take anyway, and don't start on that 'poor train driver' bollocks. For one, nobody knows who smacked him and two, he died 7 years later from leukaemia. Hardly Biggs' fault, is it.

I'm a bit biased cos I've met the man, but what's to be gained by keeping an old man in prison? I'm sure previously angelic people won't suddenly rush out and commit crimes because they see the government as a soft touch. Fucking idiots.

[Eising agreed]

Fuck him. If he'd kept his nose clean he'd not be in the situation would he? Don't see why greedy fuckers like him should be treated like Robin Hood type figures. No sympathy.

[shmol]

Fuck him. If he'd kept his nose clean he'd not be in the situation would he? Don't see why greedy fuckers like him should be treated like Robin Hood type figures. No sympathy.

totally agree, he evaded justice for years, make him serve the full term

[Taylor]

Letters@dailymail.co.uk

[Ducatiboy749]

It's a fucking disgrace but no less than I expect from that corrupt twat. So what if he won't beg for forgiveness?

30 years for a robbery is a piss take anyway, and don't start on that 'poor train driver' bollocks. For one, nobody knows who smacked him and two, he died 7 years later from leukaemia. Hardly Biggs' fault, is it.

I'm a bit biased cos I've met the man, but what's to be gained by keeping an old man in prison? I'm sure previously angelic people won't suddenly rush out and commit crimes because they see the government as a soft touch. Fucking idiots.

How did you get to meet him?

[Devski]

I don't see the point in keeping him locked up at this piont personally but in all fairness if you take the piss out of the establishment like he did, and they catch up with you, you know they're going to want their pound of flesh.

It's all in the game.

[moe1971]

Fuck him. If he'd kept his nose clean he'd not be in the situation would he? Don't see why greedy fuckers like him should be treated like Robin Hood type figures. No sympathy.


exactly...lets trea him like all those city type white collar criminals...tax evadors...politicians getting the tax payer to pay for their kids university etc etc.

[Taylor]

It's all in the game.

Exactly right, and that's why he can have no complaints - did the crime, got caught, tough shit...

But what's the point of jailing a dying man? A dying man guilty of no more than theft? As Moe says, there are bankers and politicians out there guilty of the same crime and they're just getting golden handshakes.

[Devski]

Probably because bankers & politicians are the establishment & Biggs isn't.

That's why if you believe in 'the game' or whatever (not saying I do), i.e. that these people have had their noses in the trough since time began & that people like Biggs are just claiming their share by fair means or foul - it's just different crooks from different circles & the establishment crooks are always going to look after each other.

[Taylor]

How did you get to meet him?

I was in Rio, and jokingly looked in the phone book to see if his name was in it and it was - R A Biggs. There were 4 of us travelling, so we gave him a call and asked if he fancied meeting up - he invited us round to his place and told us his stories. Fantastic day, total gentleman, proper old school criminal (drug dealers are scum, muggers are scum, robbing millions from the govt is fair game etc).

Fantastic life story - the robbery, the escape, plastic surgery in Paris, hiding in Australia, fleeing to Brazil, getting kidnapped by the News of the World and taken to Jamaica, the British pissing off the Jamaicans with their demands so the Jamaican governor letting him go to piss them off... you couldn't write it.

[Devski]

Ha - unbelievable. Brilliant story. :)

[Ducatiboy749]

I was in Rio, and jokingly looked in the phone book to see if his name was in it and it was - R A Biggs. There were 4 of us travelling, so we gave him a call and asked if he fancied meeting up - he invited us round to his place and told us his stories. Fantastic day, total gentleman, proper old school criminal (drug dealers are scum, muggers are scum, robbing millions from the govt is fair game etc).

Fantastic life story - the robbery, the escape, plastic surgery in Paris, hiding in Australia, fleeing to Brazil, getting kidnapped by the News of the World and taken to Jamaica, the British pissing off the Jamaicans with their demands so the Jamaican governor letting him go to piss them off... you couldn't write it.

Well in, sounds like a top fella.

[The Prince]

I'm pretty sure bankers, politicians etc don't commit their crimes with violence.

Fuck him. You can't come back and ask to be let out just because you're ill.

[Taylor]

But Biggs didn't commit his with violence either. A train driver got a smack - but by whom, nobody knows. And anyway, you don't get 30 years for gbh.

It's difficult to argue in favour of a convicted criminal, like Dev says, if you play the game you take what comes but having met the man, and seeing as how he's dying, I'd like to see him released.

[The Prince]

I take your point. It's easier for me to be dispassionate about it as I've never met him.

[moe1971]

I'm pretty sure bankers, politicians etc don't commit their crimes with violence.

Fuck him. You can't come back and ask to be let out just because you're ill.

nope they dont but i was responding to a comment about "Greedy fuckers breaking the law"

Think that tory cunt who sent his kid to Uny on tax payers money will get sent down?

[The Prince]

I'm not saying one rule for one. People do get away with it. Ideally I'd like everyone locked up so I can have the place to myself.

[redexile]

Ronnie Biggs,man of many talents,train robber,escape artist,pop star(with the sex pistols for you younger members).

[Yorkshire]

live by the sword..........

[takefive]

You have to say by modern standards his sentance is incredibly long.

Double standards as per usual.

It seems that pissing off the establishment is just about the worst crime you can commit in this country.

If there was any parity in this country then the sub human scum who killed baby p would also die in prison but then the sentances handed out in court these days have absolutely nothing to do with justice.

[Eising agreed]

exactly...lets trea him like all those city type white collar criminals...tax evadors...politicians getting the tax payer to pay for their kids university etc etc.

Yes, imprisonment coupled with recouping their ill gotten gains and hard labour for any of that lot.

One of the biggest problems about the recent expenses shenanigans is that it makes some people think 'fuck it, why should I play by the rules.'

We need a socialist alternative.

Eising Agreed, C/O Daily Mail Letters Page.

[JONO]

nope they dont but i was responding to a comment about "Greedy fuckers breaking the law"

Think that tory cunt who sent his kid to Uny on tax payers money will get sent down?


Or the labour MP that claimed 17k for a mortgage that he had already paid off


In fairness his doctor has signed him off sick and he is in Turkey recovering


Ref -Ronnie Biggs

He did the crime ,escaped ,now serving his sentence
Part of me thinks well fair enough but then to see him in the state he is i can't think what this is actually serving
Didn't the parole board recommend his realise but then Jack Twat Straw over rule this for him not being repentant ?

[The Prince]

I don't care how old he is. He broke the law (with violence), escaped and came back. Serve your time. He took this risk and now has to live with the consequences.

Loveable rogue, my arse.

[JONO]

I don't care how old he is. He broke the law (with violence), escaped and came back. Serve your time. He took this risk and now has to live with the consequences.

Loveable rogue, my arse.



In fairness he has served his time deemed to be able to be released on parole

It's just Jack Straw keeping him in


But there again i don't undertsand why if you are sentenced to a certain amount of years that you can be actually be let out early for good behaviour

If you are sentenced to 5 years or whatever then you should serve the full amount

I don't understand why he is still being held in the state he is but in fairness it's not something that really bothers me ,he chose to do what he did and he is now living with the consequences

[Vv6]

All about precedence realy. the sentence was set regardless of illness. I imagine there are one or two other prisoners that have been or will be ill in the future. Setting an example where one goes free simply based upon a celebrity status leaves the door open for too many exploits.

[The Prince]

Peter Sutcliffe has served his thirty years, is half blind and has chronic diabetes. Would we let him out? Of course not.

Biggs did the crime, failed to do the time and now wants out. No.

[Chee]

I agree with The Prince.

This guy committed a crime, escaped to Brazil where he lived as a celebrity, got ill then only came back to the UK to get the best medical care. He has shown no remorse for his crime at all. Even if he had served all his time in prison he should still stay locked up.

[simon pieman]

I agree with The Prince.

This guy committed a crime, escaped to Brazil where he lived as a celebrity, got ill then only came back to the UK to get the best medical care. He has shown no remorse for his crime at all. Even if he had served all his time in prison he should still stay locked up.

Whilst not disagreeing with you and The Prince , its easy to say someone has shown re-remorse for the crimes they commited and then let them go, I mean come do rapist show real re-morse about their crimes? I dont think so.
But I ask what is the point of keeping Biggs locked up if other crimnals are been let out after serving half their sentance. And to compare Biggs crime to that of Peter sutcliff is a bit far isnt it.

[Vv6]

And to compare Biggs crime to that of Peter sutcliff is a bit far isnt it.

I agree that the comparison of crimes in this case is non existant.

However, once the sentence has been passed the two individuals are seen as the same in the eyes of the law ie a 5,10,30 year prisoner. As I said, setting a precedence where one criminal is released based upon his state of health simply opens the door for other appeals based on health issues.

The public view Sutcliff and Biggs diffenetly but law can not, it has to be consistant.

[Chee]

Correct me if I am wrong but Biggs got sentenced to 30 years and has only served 10 years so why should he be considered for parole?

Ill health should never be considered as reason for release in my opinion. If he had returned to the UK because he wanted to serve his time then all well and good but he only came back to get free medical treatment and a payout from The S*n.

[The Prince]

Well, that's my point. Of course they're different criminals and one is more horrendous than the other but Sutcliffe could claim theearly release due to ill health AND he's served his time.

Neither are going anywhere I'm glad to say.

[Eising agreed]

Is he really ill though? I wouldn't take his word for it, hope he's had a thorough medical. He could be put to work for the first time in his life. Get him in a day-glow vest and have him picking up litter from the side of motorways. We could even employ him to ensure the trains run on time. Train turns up late, enter Biggs (the people's criminal) with a sharp crack to the head of the guard, he'd be good at that.

[NeverOffside]

He's just been released on compassionate grounds.

[Ducatiboy749]

Good news (from my persepctive) just a shame he couldn't pull his finger out for Shields a bit quicker.

[The Prince]

Another success for British justice.

Twats.