Biggs To Appeal Against Parole Decision

Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs is to appeal against the government's decision to refuse him parole.

Lawyers for 79-year-old Biggs, who is suffering from pneumonia after breaking his hip in a fall, said they would be seeking a judicial review of the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw's decision.

The Parole Board report said the risk he posed was "manageable under the proposed risk management plan and consequently parole is recommended".

However, the panel also said that "in terms of his attitudes and risk areas" there was little evidence – apart from his increased age – to suggest he would not return to his old criminal lifestyle.

Mr Straw rejected a recommendation by the Parole Board, that he should be released, saying Biggs was "wholly unrepentant" about his actions and had "outrageously courted the media".

He also said it was "unacceptable" that the 79-year-old had chosen not to obey the law and tried to avoid the consequences of his decision.

Mr Straw said: "Had he complied with his sentence, he would have been a free man many years ago."

Biggs's son Michael has campaigned for his father's release. He was called to the Norfolk and Norwich University hospital last night after Bigg's health deteriorated.

The convicted train robber was taken to the hospital after a fall over the weekend.

Ronnie Biggs was one of a 15-strong gang which attacked a mail train in Ledburn, Buckinghamshire, on 8 August 1963.

He had a walk-on role in the robbery when the gang held up the overnight Glasgow to London train and stole £2.6 million (worth £40m at today's prices) - the biggest ever raid on a British train.

After being sentenced to 30 years in prison, Biggs managed to escape from Wandsworth Prison in South London, in a furniture van after serving 15 months of his sentence.

Biggs returned to Britain in 2001 after 36 years on the run and was ordered to complete the sentence.

(JM/BMcc)