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Ronnie Biggs waves goodbye to his prison guards as he is freed
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor7 Aug 2009
Ronnie Biggs today waved goodbye to his prison guards as he was formally freed from custody.
The release of the Great Train Robber, announced by Justice Secretary Jack Straw yesterday, comes before his 80th birthday tomorrow.
Biggs was greeted by his son Michael, who told how his father had celebrated his release with prison staff who until today had guarded him. “My father still has a sense of humour. He shook hands with the prison guards and then just waved.”
Biggs, who was released on compassionate grounds because of deteriorating health, may be transferred next week from Norfolk and Norwich University hospital to Barnet, where his son lives.
Biggs's lawyer Giovanni di Stefano said: “We will have to see what the medical advice is.” He said that Biggs, who has pneumonia, cannot speak and has to be fed through a tube, was seriously ill and was “going to die”.
Biggs was part of a 15-strong gang which stole £2.6 million from a mail train in Buckinghamshire. Critics angered by the decision to release him highlighted Biggs's lack of repentance for his part in the 1963 robbery.
Reader views (38)
Good luck to Ronnie Biggs
His sentence was a joke,today we let the tormenters of inicent children out on parole to strike again and again.
Think of Baby P his tormenters will be out in a few years with new identities and protection paid for by the tax payer.
The well paid halfwits who failed him are now seeking compensation for loss of earnings,They should be bloody ashamed.
- Heather, Inverness /Scotland, 13/08/2009 08:07
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The irony is that this money was on its way to be burnt so in a way they were just an early version of re-cycling!
As mentioned by another comment the driver did not die as a direct result of the robbery but many years later something that is still mis-reported!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 09/08/2009 17:39
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Christians -forgive the man-I love the film get Carter and the 60's crime thrillers-Ronnie Biggs was a small time crook-so what -people shoot people at traffic light these days -drug crime etc.Forgive the man -he will die soon-he did not torture or mame anyone-just nicked some money-from the Post Office-with his mates =small time -not the Krays!!This week a woman was kidnapped in a robbewry in Mayfair-a real crime- you save money mr taxpayer if he is at home-forgive the man -
- Keith Skelton, Colombo Sri Lanka, 08/08/2009 13:26
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I do not condone what Ronnie Biggs did, but when does justice turn to retribution? I am saddened by some of the comments such as 'low life'. I work for the criminal justice system and beleive me, its not perfect!
- K Craske, Briston England, 08/08/2009 11:20
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Allan Clarke, Brasil - the burning question is "Why?"
He wasn't Robin Hood. He wasn't any kind of folk hero. He was a part of a vicious gang of thugs who robbed others any way they thought necessary.
The headline says he waved to his guard? How many fingers?
- Rogan, Irving, 07/08/2009 21:48
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Oh come along folks...Biggs is a ducker/diver - a survivor ...sure he abused the NHS for 8 years & then down to casualty with a dodgy heart. At least Biggs is one of our own.
- Drew Peacock, London, 07/08/2009 19:13
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I don't want to hear any more about Biggs. When (if) he dies let us hope it is in private, as with the funeral
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 07/08/2009 18:19
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Sorry to see Mr Biggs so near to death,but the out cry on freeing him?I ask you what compassion for Mr Biggs? I see non from the so called British government.Respect to Mr Biggs and his family.
- Allan Clarke, Brasil, 07/08/2009 17:43
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Hello MickinLondon,
Thank you,
Read your reply, you like me have a point of view, well thats O.K. as I said at the end of my letter do-gooders can't stand them?, if the cap fits etc.
The truth remains he was part of a gang that robbed a Royal Mail Train in 1963 for which he never served a full sentence after being convicted, and if you think I'm wrong then it is you sir that is getting your knickers in a twist.
Finally, My Grandfather escaped from a German prison,.... different ball game, he escaped because of the fear of being shot, Biggs would not of been shot or hung,the war had nothing to do with it, it was 1963 thats the difference, can you not see that?.
- John L., Scarborough N.YKS. England. U.K., 07/08/2009 17:42
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Crime must not pay but in today's world perhaps we should address more attention to some of the more revolting and/or corporate crimes that affect our daily lives. The train driver died of unrelated issues and to set sentences of 40 years for what in todays terms might be considered as 'petty theft' makes little sense. Wrong though it may be many had a secret admiration at the time as to the audacity of the event. Society should stop worrying about this and deal with the real issues of today
- Rush Nigel, France, 07/08/2009 17:15
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I have the end scene of The Usual Suspects in my mind, where crippled Kevin Spacey hobbles away from the police station. Then, as he progresses along the street, the hobbling fades away, to be replaced by a normal walk and a big grin.
- Ross, London, UK, 07/08/2009 16:56
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Let him go in peace. Death comes to us all. It was a long time ago and what we know of this man is a cooking pot of crime story, folk, legend and myth. But his time has come, so let it go.
- Maria, London, 07/08/2009 13:35
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The NHS exists thru tax payers money which is why we have heaIth care throughout our Iives - Ronnie Biggs was a Iazy work shy thug who stoIe from peopIe and then comes back to get free NHS treatment....and we put up with it!
- Tony, hendon, 07/08/2009 11:45
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dear/sir/madam i know biggs did a claim but you dont get that long for murder the law needs looking at in the uk yours sincerley graham
- Graham Gomersall Freeman, HULL yorkshire, 07/08/2009 11:25
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Mickinlondon - a few points:-
1. He did commit an offence after the robbery - the escape from prison itself is an offence.
2. It is the laws of today that need addressing not the sentence imposed on him at the time; Biggs got what he deserved by way of a punishment. Don't use today's weaknesses to justify his release.
3. The use of criminals for national defence cannot be compared to robbery for self-gain. And to use the comparison that there was some sort of justification in escaping because it was what imprisoned servicemen did in WWII is so pathetic as to be inane.
4. Biggs is very sick but just because of that does not seem to me to be sufficient reason to release him. In my opinion, he should stay in the Prison Hospital or be under guard at the hospital until he dies. He hasn't done "the time" and it grates with me he is being released. There's no justification for it - he's never shown any remorse for what he has done - the only good thing is that, hopefully, he won't be around to enjoy his freedom. He was, and still is, a nasty, vicious thug and that's all there is to it.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 07/08/2009 11:15
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While felons banged up for life for far more serious crimes than the one Biggs committed are released after they've served just a small part of their time, just because they said sorry (like they mean it), just because Biggs "showed no remorse" the poor, doddery, ill old man is left to rot until Jack Straw found it convenient to allow him to be released to live his final days. Straw then doesn't have the bad press of him dying in prison then, does he?
- Paul H, London, UK, 07/08/2009 11:15
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If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. Simples.
- Roger, Surrey, 07/08/2009 10:40
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Well said Lezli - Biggs couldn't do the time for the crime, he whooped it up for decades, amd only came back for the free NHS treatment for which he contributed no taxes.
- Neil, London, London UK, 07/08/2009 10:10
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The sentences in this country have always been a joke. Murders get less jail time than people who rob banks. We live in a society which values money over human life. Rapists and killers are walking the streets due to light sentencing. Surely people who are no danger to the public could be doing community work, freeing up jail places for the low life that are endangering the public.
I had this idea of building huge prison system in the moorlands with a shuttle system to take workers to a newly built town a suitable distance away. This would create jobs and solve prison overcrowding. This of course will never happen because our government would rather waste billions on nuclear weapons.
- Paul, London, 07/08/2009 10:07
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The "ancient" and decrepid "Judge" took the view that as this was theft of the "Royal" Mail it was akin to a personal steal from the Queen herself! He took it as some form of treason. My Dad`s comment at the time was that if the Judge had the option he would "take them to the Tower and hang them"
10/12 Years would have been about right for a theft from a bank about that time.
An Old Fashioned Royalist but prejudiced Judge started this vindictive approach which has lasted ever since.
Derek Bently was eventually pardoned?
History will re-evaluate Biggs against the public (jealous?) hysteria which is being generated today.
- Roy Haines, Billericay Essex, 07/08/2009 10:07
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"Labour's message to society is that crime pays. Two fingers up to the decent hard working honest people in our lands. The Liberal-Lefties destruction of our society is complete."
On the contrary, it seems pretty clear to me that Jack Straw (who's hardly a bleeding-heart liberal) was determined to keep Biggs in jail until it became too obvious to ignore that he had just weeks to live and clearly posed no threat to anyone. Applications for Biggs' early release on compassionate grounds were first made in 2001, and turned down repeatedly until yesterday.
So I'm at a loss to see how that sends out an encouraging message to criminals: "commit a crime and we'll bang you up for years, only granting parole if you have a terminal illness"!
- Michael, London, 07/08/2009 09:39
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Straw couldn't do nything else but let him out on humanitarian grounds. But Biggs has only a few weeks to live and will be confined to his bed. His relatives want him moved closer to them but he shouldn't be. Let him spend his last days where he is. It will be interesting to see whether the criminal fraternity turn out en masse to celebrate his funeral, and whether it'll be splashed all over the tabloids. I sincerely hope not. After Harry Patch, to laud his funeral will be a kick in the teeth for common decency.Tabloids, let Biggs depart quietly in disgrace and unknown.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 07/08/2009 09:30
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Can't wait for the "miracle" recovery, and the huge cash award, the books, the papers and the TV series that Saint Max Clifford has organised.
- Lezli Taubler, London/UK, 07/08/2009 01:24
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Seriously, does anyone really care? Let's not glorify this pathetic loser. Good riddance.
- Phil, UK, 07/08/2009 00:39
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Here we go again!
Crime pays!
Biggs got off scot free, just like all the others!
What has gone wrong with this country!
The trouble is that people voted this government in again and agan!!!
- Steve, London, 07/08/2009 00:14
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So this lilly-livered bunch of left-wing loony cowards who run this country have finally caved into the the anarchists and criminals who want to ruin thos country.
Shame on you Bliar, Brown, Straw, Mandelson et al. Shame on you!
- Tangomike, Kensington, London, 07/08/2009 00:06
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Hello John L, Scarborough: London Calling Back, Jack Mills died at the age of 65 of Leukaemia; 7 years after the train robbery; in which he received a black eye and facial bruising etc; his inquest seven years later confirmed his death had nothing to do with the injuries received in the train robbery etc.
Yes Ronnie helped others rob a train, many others have robbed banks and armoured cars; many of these criminals would have been sought out by the government during WW2 to fight the Nazis, and other enemies of the State etc; it is well known that the British used safe crackers during WW2, releasing them from prisons to do their will; and they even used criminals to attack the Irish people in their own country; The Black & Tans etc; so criminals are only bad when the State doesn’t need them, to fight for them.
You have a government that allows criminals to roam free on our streets; courtesy of Jack Straw and New Labour; yet you get your knickers in a twist over an old man that is almost dead, and has not been involved in any other crime since the train robbery; with the exception of escaping from jail etc; which anyone would have tried had they received 30 jail.
Even our soldiers, airmen, and sailors escaped from German prison camps; it is human nature to flee or free yourself; right or wrong.
sleep well ok
- Mickinlondon, london., 06/08/2009 22:53
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Biggs never showed remorse because he was a 1960's criminal who saw it as a profession. In fact he wasn't even a full-timer when he joined the robbery. Reggie Kray was released before he died and now should Biggs.
For all Jack Straw's postering he knows he was wrong and cruel and now he has done the right thing.
- Richard Meredith, huntingdon, 06/08/2009 22:32
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This low life carried out a vicious crime and then happily spent his best years lapping up the sun, surf and media attention and only came back to the uk to sponge of the state, a state he had never ever contributed too.
Great one Jack
- Frank, London, 06/08/2009 21:47
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Labour's message to society is that crime pays. Two fingers up to the decent hard working honest people in our lands. The Liberal-Lefties destruction of our society is complete.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 06/08/2009 18:43
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Hello London,
In 1963 this man along with his so called mates stopped and robbed a ROYAL MAIL TRAIN and later was caught, sentenced, and then escaped from prision to live a life in the sun in Brazil. One of the train personel died and never had the chance of living his life, or even a trip on a sunshine holiday thanks to this man.
Biggs only came back to the U.K. because of health problems and knew he would be looked after, but never said sorry for what he had done. Now on the 7th of August 2009 he will be released from prision on COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS... how dare Mr Straw do this?.
This world of ours has gone mad and this man wins yet again, and our Government has just lost it,s respect. This man should of died in prision.
I for one am not sorry for my view, and I have grown up knowing who Biggs is and what he had done, he crossed the line in the sand and he should rot in hell.
Forgive and forget, never, and because of this I will never vote Labour again, why? because there on the side of wrong, do-gooders I can't stand them, and I think I don't just speak for myself, .... do you?.
- John L., Scarborough N.YKS. England. U.K., 06/08/2009 18:32
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about time.
- Owen Mulhall, london uk, 06/08/2009 18:20
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Let us hope he goes quietly, and without news.
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 06/08/2009 18:13
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In my view a wrong decision. If you cannot do the time............ etc. Where was his humanity when he did the crime?
- Hugh, Middx, 06/08/2009 18:06
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Biggs is a career criminal who evaded justice for 35 years and only returned to the UK for medical care, becomming a drain on the health service to which he has never contributed. He should die in prison.
- Adam, London, 06/08/2009 18:03
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if hes going to die very soon why not let hom die where his at iam sure they can take better care of him then his family..NHS is it!!!
- Kc, Londonboy, 06/08/2009 17:49
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Wow! So can I rob a company of a few million pounds, kill someone in the process, take the money, go abroad and live a life of luxury. Come back spend a bit of time in jail and then get released to die at home. What about the man that died when they robbed the train!!!!! Disgusting!! So crime DOES pay. Looking for a new career now to beat the credit crunch.
- Karenf, London, 06/08/2009 17:47
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I should think so too Pathetic keeping an old man at death's door in prison; all political of course.
- Sheila, london uk, 06/08/2009 17:39
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