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| Train robber Biggs wins freedom | Train robber Biggs wins freedom |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs has been granted release from his prison sentence on compassionate grounds, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said. | Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs has been granted release from his prison sentence on compassionate grounds, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said. |
| Biggs, 79, is severely ill in hospital with pneumonia and doctors have said there is "not much hope" for him. | Biggs, 79, is severely ill in hospital with pneumonia and doctors have said there is "not much hope" for him. |
| Mr Straw said the decision had been based on medical evidence that Biggs's condition had deteriorated and he was not expected to recover. | Mr Straw said the decision had been based on medical evidence that Biggs's condition had deteriorated and he was not expected to recover. |
| Biggs's son Michael told the BBC he was "absolutely delighted" by the news. | Biggs's son Michael told the BBC he was "absolutely delighted" by the news. |
| The 79-year-old was refused parole by Mr Straw last month. | The 79-year-old was refused parole by Mr Straw last month. |
| 'Common sense' | |
| He rejected a recommendation by the Parole Board which said the risk Biggs posed was "manageable". | He rejected a recommendation by the Parole Board which said the risk Biggs posed was "manageable". |
| Lawyer for Biggs, Giovanni Di Stefano, described his release as a victory for common sense. | Lawyer for Biggs, Giovanni Di Stefano, described his release as a victory for common sense. |
| The inmate of Norwich Prison, who was serving a 30-year sentence, was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in June suffering from a chest infection and was readmitted on Tuesday. | The inmate of Norwich Prison, who was serving a 30-year sentence, was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in June suffering from a chest infection and was readmitted on Tuesday. |
| I'm just very hopeful that my father ... can have a little bit of quality time with the family and die with some dignity Biggs's son Michael How the robbery unfolded Profile: Ronnie Biggs Send your comments | |
| Mr Straw said: "The medical evidence clearly shows that Mr Biggs is very ill and that his condition has deteriorated recently, culminating in his readmission to hospital. | Mr Straw said: "The medical evidence clearly shows that Mr Biggs is very ill and that his condition has deteriorated recently, culminating in his readmission to hospital. |
| "His condition is not expected to improve. | "His condition is not expected to improve. |
| "It is for that reason that I am granting Mr Biggs compassionate release on medical grounds. | "It is for that reason that I am granting Mr Biggs compassionate release on medical grounds. |
| "I have therefore been satisfied that the relevant conditions have been met, which I was not in respect of the recommendation for parole." | "I have therefore been satisfied that the relevant conditions have been met, which I was not in respect of the recommendation for parole." |
| Biggs's son Michael said: "Finally common sense has prevailed, you know, my father has done his time. He's absolutely no threat to society whatsoever. | Biggs's son Michael said: "Finally common sense has prevailed, you know, my father has done his time. He's absolutely no threat to society whatsoever. |
| "My father is completely incapable of re-offending. | "My father is completely incapable of re-offending. |
| "He has rehabilitated himself inside and outside of prison. All I can say is we are extremely happy at the moment. | "He has rehabilitated himself inside and outside of prison. All I can say is we are extremely happy at the moment. |
| "I'm just very hopeful that my father can have another few months ahead of him in his life, or a few weeks, or whatever God decides to give him, so he can have a little bit of quality time with the family and die with some dignity." | "I'm just very hopeful that my father can have another few months ahead of him in his life, or a few weeks, or whatever God decides to give him, so he can have a little bit of quality time with the family and die with some dignity." |
| The judicial review of Mr Straw's decision to reject the Parole Board's recommendation will now be dropped, Mr Di Stefano said. | The judicial review of Mr Straw's decision to reject the Parole Board's recommendation will now be dropped, Mr Di Stefano said. |
| Timeline: Ronnie Biggs In pictures: Life on the run Who were the robbers? | |
| The decision means Biggs will spend his birthday as a free man, although his condition means he will be unable to celebrate his release. | The decision means Biggs will spend his birthday as a free man, although his condition means he will be unable to celebrate his release. |
| After a series of strokes, Biggs is bedridden, fed through a tube and barely able to communicate. | After a series of strokes, Biggs is bedridden, fed through a tube and barely able to communicate. |
| The three Prison Service staff watching him will be withdrawn on Friday, once the licence for his release is finalised. | The three Prison Service staff watching him will be withdrawn on Friday, once the licence for his release is finalised. |
| If his condition were to improve, Biggs would be transferred to a nursing home in Barnet, north London, near his son's home. | If his condition were to improve, Biggs would be transferred to a nursing home in Barnet, north London, near his son's home. |
| Harry Fletcher, of the probation officers union Napo, welcomed the decision, but added: "It's just a great shame he wasn't released two months ago on the recommendation of the Parole Board. | Harry Fletcher, of the probation officers union Napo, welcomed the decision, but added: "It's just a great shame he wasn't released two months ago on the recommendation of the Parole Board. |
| "His medical condition was pretty desperate two months ago - he couldn't walk, he could barely talk and he posed no risk to anybody." | "His medical condition was pretty desperate two months ago - he couldn't walk, he could barely talk and he posed no risk to anybody." |
| However, the train drivers union Aslef criticised the decision to release Biggs. | However, the train drivers union Aslef criticised the decision to release Biggs. |
| Ronnie Biggs was in his mid-30s when he went on the run | |
| General secretary Keith Norman said: "It's ludicrous that a man who was part of a gang that committed a violent crime and attacked an innocent man and hit him with an iron bar should be a person who deserves clemency." | General secretary Keith Norman said: "It's ludicrous that a man who was part of a gang that committed a violent crime and attacked an innocent man and hit him with an iron bar should be a person who deserves clemency." |
| 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 £2.6m in used banknotes. | 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 £2.6m in used banknotes. |
| The train's driver Jack Mills suffered head injuries during the robbery. | The train's driver Jack Mills suffered head injuries during the robbery. |
| Biggs was given a 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. | Biggs was given a 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 Australia and Brazil, before returning to the UK voluntarily in 2001 in search of medical treatment. | He was on the run for more than 30 years, living in Australia and Brazil, before returning to the UK voluntarily in 2001 in search of medical treatment. |
| He was sent to Belmarsh high-security prison on his return before being moved to a specialist medical unit at Norwich prison. | He was sent to Belmarsh high-security prison on his return before being moved to a specialist medical unit at Norwich prison. |
| A Ministry of Justice spokesman says Biggs's licence conditions had to be officially signed-off before he is officially "released". That is expected to happen some time on Friday morning. | A Ministry of Justice spokesman says Biggs's licence conditions had to be officially signed-off before he is officially "released". That is expected to happen some time on Friday morning. |
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| Michael Biggs: "My father has done his time" |