Ronnie Biggs' parole bid turned down (From Redhill And Reigate Life)

Ronnie Biggs' parole bid turned down

6:36pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs, who lived in Redhill and was arrested there, has been refused parole.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw went against a recommendation by the Parole Board which backed Biggs' release, saying he was “wholly unrepentant.”

Biggs, 79, was one of the 15-strong gang which attacked the Glasgow to London mail train at Ledburn, Buckinghamshire, on August 8, 1963, before making off with £2.6 million.

After escaping from Wandsworth Prison, south London, 15 months into his 30-year sentence, he went on the run for more than 30 years, living in Spain, Australia and Brazil, before returning to the UK in 2001.

He had become eligible for release after serving a third of his sentence.

But today, Mr Straw turned down his parole bid, saying: “Mr Biggs is wholly unrepentant and the Parole Board found his propensity to breach trust a very significant factor.

“He has not undertaken risk related work and does not regret his offending.”

Saying he had informed Biggs of his decision, Mr Straw said: “Mr Biggs chose to serve only one year of a 30 year sentence before he took the personal decision to commit another offence and escape from prison, avoiding capture by travelling abroad for 35 years whilst outrageously courting the media.

“Had he complied with his sentence, he would have been a free man many years ago.”

Mr Straw added: “I am refusing the Parole Board’s recommendation for parole.

“Biggs chose not to obey the law and respect the punishments given to him – the legal system in this country deserves more respect than this.

“It was Mr Biggs’s own choice to offend and he now appears to want to avoid the consequences of his decision. I do not think this is acceptable.”

Biggs' son Michael, 34, had said he was hopeful his father would be freed in time to celebrate his 80th birthday on August 8.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)