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Freedom beckons for Biggs
Martin Bentham23 Apr 2009
Ronnie Biggs was today within sight of freedom amid reports that probation chiefs had declared him safe to release.
A Parole Board panel met to decide whether to approve the Great Train Robber's release when the minimum term that he must serve in prison expires in July.
It can still veto Biggs's release — which must also be approved by Justice Secretary Jack Straw — if it decides that he is likely to reoffend.
Biggs's supporters have already argued that this is highly unlikely because of the 79-year-old's age and frail condition and today appeared to have won potentially crucial backing from the Probation Service.
The service is understood to have submitted a report to today's hearing stating that Biggs, who was part of a 15-man gang that stole £2.6 million from a mail train in Buckinghamshire in 1963, is suitable to be released.
This recommendation significantly raises the prospect that the panel — which adjourned its hearing to seek further information — will eventually decide to approve Biggs's release and means that he is likely to be free in time to celebrate his 80th birthday on 8 August out of prison.
As expectations of his release mounted, Biggs's son Michael said he was hopeful his father would be freed. “I think it's the obvious thing to do,” he said. “If other people are entitled to get parole, why shouldn't my father? He represents no threat to society.”
Biggs was originally jailed for 30 years for his part in the robbery, which left train driver Jack Mills with injuries from which he never recovered before his death in 1970. Biggs escaped after 15 months in custody by scaling the walls of Wandsworth Prison and making off in a furniture van.
He spent 35 years on the run, becoming Britain's most notorious fugitive, living in Spain, Australia and Brazil before returning to Britain voluntarily in 2001.
By July he will have spent 10 years in prison — the minimum period that he was required to serve under the sentencing rules in place at the time he was imprisoned — and will then be entitled to his freedom unless the Parole Board decide that he would be at risk of reoffending.
That appears to be highly unlikely because Biggs, who has suffered a series of strokes and pneumonia since returning to Britain, remains frail and in poor health.
The Parole Board declined to comment on whether Biggs, who is in Norwich Prison, was likely to be released and a spokeswoman said that a decision would not be reached until further information about his case had been studied.
“A Parole Board panel met today to consider the case of Mr Ronald Biggs. There are, however, certain issues which still need to be clarified before a final recommendation can be made,” she added.
“We are confident that the information can be made available for a decision to be made in time for Mr Biggs's parole eligibility date in July 2009. The recommendation would be to the Justice Secretary, who has the final decision in this type of case.”
Reader views (23)
As Rueben hinted at above, Biggs and rest of these men put a man in a wheelchair with injuries that caused his death, be it a few years later. They did this to steal money and did care that they wrecked a man and his family. Why do we make heroes about of these people. Yes let him out on parole, but don't talk about dignity and him enjoying what time he has left with this family, the driver didn't have that option.
- Jw, London, 24/04/2009 09:24
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Crime does pay for the bankers who get millions in bonuses for collapsing the world economy and causing us to suffer over-excessive bank charges. I don't see bankers being brought to trial and sentenced for shareholders' lost funds. Briggs was a case of a member of the working class helping himself to 2.3 million. To lock up an elderly gentleman for that length of time is immoral and now its pay-back time.
- Anikar, Londn, 24/04/2009 09:22
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Andrew Rodgers, Swindon: IS THAT WHY THE UK HAS AN UNELECTED PRIME MINISTER?
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 24/04/2009 08:31
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"He was coshed when he tried to resist" writes mickeyinlondon as though this justifies the vicious attack on him.I do not understand that argument or defence of this nasty little crook.
- P Doff, filey yorks, 24/04/2009 07:35
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Rosie I guess you was never born when it happened. What has he done to deserve to stay locked up. At least he should have some dignity by haveing what time he has left with his family and not in cell in Norwich
- Paul Anderson, Mentone Australia, 24/04/2009 04:03
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If Ronnie was a paedophile he would have been home months ago. He was contributor in the train robbery but Bankers get huge bonuses for doing little or nothing. The system rewards them when it shouldn't. The Great Train robbery was the working class hitting back. The Bankers who have milked our system and caused our economy to collapse should be accountable for their unacceptable level of greed. What is good for Ronnie is also good for the Bankers.
- Kaz, Norfolk, 23/04/2009 23:44
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you don't serve ten years for murder nowadays.
- Squiz, Islington, 23/04/2009 21:38
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Once he's free, he won't be able to jump the NHS queue any more, he'll have to wait in line like law-abiding, tax paying citizens have always had to. Bet he won't like that much. Tough.
- Lezli Taubler, London / UK, 23/04/2009 21:19
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He has NOT 'done his time' That is why he is in jail. We should prosecute white collar crime not use the lack of prosecution to excuse a violent criminal.
- Tempest Fugit, Newcastl Australia, 23/04/2009 21:17
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We now hear that drug dealers who kill thousands will have their sentences cut. Biggs was a serious criminal but nothing compared to the drug barons.
- Terry, Hennebont France, 23/04/2009 18:26
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Ronnie Biggs? I remember him and the robbery well,he has now nearly paid his debt to society,I say let him go.
There are thousands of nazi war criminals in South America,they have never paid for their crimes and they did far worse than Biggs.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy, 23/04/2009 18:08
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should stay locked up.
- Rosie, watford, 23/04/2009 17:42
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Stephen of Jarrow: and P Doffy of Filey.
Jack Mills died in 1970 of leukemia; seven years after the train robbery.
He was coshed yes, no guns or anything else were used; and he was coshed when he tried to resist; and no other reason.
Ronnie Biggs was in the trucks waiting for the mail bags to be gathered; he was never implicated in any violence; not that it is an excuse etc.
Now murderers that commit premeditated murder get out of jail in about twelve years; so where is the balance of justice with a murderer; and a robber that coshed a man during a raid etc.
OK Ronnie did wrong; we have Bankers that steal pension funds and old people suffer, some even commit suicide; we have governments that allow pensioners to eat cardboard instead of food, and they die slowly of starvation; we have health services that refuse to give medication to the sick suffering from cancer and dementias; all of these people kill more than any crooks ever kill; and they kill them day in a day out.
So Stephen and P Doffy; lets get all this into prospective; Ronnie Biggs has paid for his crime of robbery; and paid in full; the rest have never paid anything at all.
Jack Mills died of leukemia; and that is the true fact.
The rest is Political propaganda designed to justify 30 year jail sentences on blue collar crime, and blue collar criminals.
White collar crime is not often punished at all.
- mickyinlondon, london, 23/04/2009 17:13
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A man died as a result of this nasty little man & his crime.Biggs is not Robin Hood!
- P Doff, filey yorks, 23/04/2009 16:41
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Hes done his time and is eligible for parole,i hope hes granted it,and why not! hes certainly less of a danger to society than say the failed bankers who have robbed us of millions,or the arms dealers and producers,now those types really are a danger to society!
- Kev, London-UK, 23/04/2009 16:19
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The sentences handed out to the Great Train Robbers were politically motivated and punitive. It also sent out a message to villains that if you steal something that is going to get burned anyway from the establishment you are going to do a lot of time, even if you weren't tooled up. The villains got the message alright and it is no coincidence that armed robberies increased!
- Mark, South-East London, 23/04/2009 16:08
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Well, Reuben Camara, what has happened to democracy in the UK is what has always happened to democracy in the UK.
The constituents of the nation cannot be expected to decide on every single matter of national governance so we agree to elect representatives of the people to a parliamentary organisation. They in turn do not have time to discuss, debate and decide on every single matter of national governance so they organise a hierachy of accountable responsibility known as the Secretaries of State and so on.
Frank, regardless of the message, in our current economic situation, does it really benefit us to continue to pay to keep a frail old man, who poses no threat to society imprisoned. A luxury we might be able to afford in more oppulent times, but right now our greatest consideration should be to act in the best interests of the people. He has served his minimum sentance, he is very unlikely to reoffend. Let him go.
- Andrew Rodgers, Swindon, UK, 23/04/2009 16:07
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A man doing his job died because they robbed that train. Biggs spent years living the high life while on the run, only returning to this country due to his health so he could receive free treatment on the NHS. I wonder how those feeling sorry for him now would feel if they were related to the murdered guard. By rights Biggs should have saved this country some tax payers money instead of getting sympathy from do gooders.
- Stephen, Jarrow, 23/04/2009 15:36
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What a great pity the UK cannot keep in prison the REAL criminals - those who have brought Great Britain to its knees with financial chaos.
I note that Jackboot Straw will "have the final word" on whether Mr Bigg's should be released.
Yes, Mr Jackboot Straw.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO DEMOCRACY IN THE UK?
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 23/04/2009 15:07
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Good luck Ronnie; rob a pension fund next time; forget the trains; since privatization they are no longer reliable.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 23/04/2009 14:51
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He is not a danger to society and has spent nearly 12 years in jail. It is cruel to keep such a sick man in jail and it is senseless to keep him there any longer.
- M D, cardiff UK, 23/04/2009 14:42
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Biggs only stole 2.3millon this goverment has stolen far more
lets lock them away for theft of our country and rights never mind the cash they have had
- Terry Chambers, London, 23/04/2009 14:40
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So apparently crime pays. What a great message to send out.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 23/04/2009 14:28
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