Ronnie Biggs released

[thecesspit]

Ronnie Biggs is terminally ill and has been freed (pending paperwork) from prison. According to his son "Finally common sense has prevailed, you know, my father has done his time.". Sorry Michael, Ronnie didn't do his time. Ronnie beat a man over the head with an iron bar during a robbery, got caught and then spent only 18 months of a 30 year

Comments

[undyingking]

I've never really understood why the train robbers became so lionized. Perhaps you had to be there at the time -- I'm pretty sure it had already happened before I was old enough to be aware (the Sex Pistols, etc).

[thecesspit]

1963.

My Dad was always annoyed about the whole thing.

I think the first time I saw him express an opinion about pop culture was when Buster was released... and not just because it had Phil Collins in.

[undyingking]

(I meant, the lionization must have already happened -- I knew the robbery had ;-)

[onebyone]

I agree that he has not served his time. But you don't generally get 30 years for hitting someone with an iron bar, unless you happen to be stealing something at the same time

[thecesspit]

Oddly, from what I have briefly read, Ronnie Biggs was really there just to get "Stan Agate" the gang's engine driver along (not clear if this was by coercion or as a fixer) and was dispactched to unload the train before the driver was beaten.

Buster Edwards got 15 years, while the ring leader, Bruce Reynolds, got 10 (after being on the run for a few years. Inspector Slipper (of the Yard) claims he knew who did the actually beating, but hadn't got enough evidence to effect an arrest.