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'No request' for release of Biggs | 'No request' for release of Biggs |
(1 day later) | |
No-one has officially requested that the Ministry of Justice release 79-year-old train robber Ronnie Biggs from jail, a campaigner has revealed. | No-one has officially requested that the Ministry of Justice release 79-year-old train robber Ronnie Biggs from jail, a campaigner has revealed. |
Mark Leech, Prisons Handbook editor, said Justice Secretary Jack Straw told him this when they met on Tuesday. | Mark Leech, Prisons Handbook editor, said Justice Secretary Jack Straw told him this when they met on Tuesday. |
He said Mr Straw had told him: "The problem with Mr Biggs is no-one has formally asked me for his release." | He said Mr Straw had told him: "The problem with Mr Biggs is no-one has formally asked me for his release." |
Mr Leech said: "I was shocked as I had assumed requests had been made and rejected but that's not the case." | Mr Leech said: "I was shocked as I had assumed requests had been made and rejected but that's not the case." |
Mr Leech said his impressions on the release campaign came from what Biggs' lawyers and family had been reported in the press as saying. | Mr Leech said his impressions on the release campaign came from what Biggs' lawyers and family had been reported in the press as saying. |
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "We do not comment on individuals." | |
Nursing home plan | Nursing home plan |
Biggs, from Lambeth, south London, was a member of the 15-strong gang which attacked the Glasgow to London mail train at Ledburn in Buckinghamshire on 8 August 1963, in what became known as the Great Train Robbery. | Biggs, from Lambeth, south London, was a member of the 15-strong gang which attacked the Glasgow to London mail train at Ledburn in Buckinghamshire on 8 August 1963, in what became known as the Great Train Robbery. |
They made off with £2.6m - a record haul at the time - but were captured shortly afterwards. | They made off with £2.6m - a record haul at the time - but were captured shortly afterwards. |
Biggs was jailed for 30 years but escaped after 15 months from Wandsworth Prison, south London, in a furniture van. | Biggs was jailed for 30 years but escaped after 15 months from Wandsworth Prison, south London, in a furniture van. |
He was on the run for more than 30 years, living in Spain, Australia and Brazil, before returning to the UK voluntarily in 2001. | He was on the run for more than 30 years, living in Spain, Australia and Brazil, before returning to the UK voluntarily in 2001. |
Earlier this week he was returned to Norwich Prison from hospital, where he was being treated for a bout of pneumonia. | Earlier this week he was returned to Norwich Prison from hospital, where he was being treated for a bout of pneumonia. |
His son Michael Biggs said he wanted to move his father to a nursing home because he was so ill he would need special care that he could not give. | His son Michael Biggs said he wanted to move his father to a nursing home because he was so ill he would need special care that he could not give. |
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