Biggs

[Caddy2000]

Should he be free?


I'd have to say no. 9 years of a 30 year sentence? I can't feel sorry for him, he spent longer on the run than he would have served. He should have died in prison.

[RichT]

I agree - he lived in Brazil for 30yrs....

[the_lone_wolf]

+1

Couldn't care less if he's ill, dying or whatever

He showed no compassion for the train driver he almost killed

He showed no remorse or acceptance of his crime because he escaped and tried to stay on the run

He should die in his cell, where he belongs...

[timwilky]

I cannot understand why we allowed him to return. He should have stayed in Brazil. Why should the british tax payer pay for his prison and medical care

[xXBADGERXx]

They never recovered the money that he lavishly spent sipping drinks on a permanent vacation in Brazil . Starting to regret all those cocky winks at the camera Ronnie ? whilst sipping a drink with a Brazillian beauty , not so smarmy now are ya .

[Geoffrey]

what time you are sentenced is the time you should serve, regardless.

[Biker Biggles]

He was a small bit player in the robbery.He didnt hit the driver,and probably wasnt even on the train.
He actually lived mostly in poverty in Brazil because others had the money.
Now Im not suggesting he is a "nice guy" or innocent,but the original 30 year term was nothing short of gratuitous even by 1960s standards,because they upset the powerful establishment,and Jack Staws decision last month seemed to perpetuate that.Loads of sex offenders and murderers do less time.I see no reason to keep him in prison.

[Jabba]

He was a small bit player in the robbery.He didnt hit the driver,and probably wasnt even on the train.

I heard on the radio this morning that he was in a Land Rover during the robbery, never set foot on the train, didn't even touch a mail bag and wasn't involved in the killing of the train driver. his role in the theft/murder has been glorified.

I agree that he hasn't served long enough.

However, he's close to death and isn't a threat to society. It's probably cheaper for the tax-payer to release him than keep him in prison. The prison space can then be used for someone who is a threat to society.

Am i alone in having the song that he did with the S3x Pistols going through my head?

[gruntygiggles]

I think it's right that he's been allowed out, for his family more than anything. As has been said, he actually didn't play a very big part in the robbery, didn't take part in the violence and never set foot on the train.....30 years for that was ridiculous.

I think if he got 9 years for his level of involvement now there would be outrage. A driver that kills a family of six serves 18 months, a rapist gets 2 years...etc........
Biggs was driver, yes he did wrong, yes he should have served a decent sentence and yes he should have served it sooner, but to deny his family at this point would just be silly IMO. Biggs is too ill to know where he is or what's happening, his family did nothing wrong, so lets give them the chance to say goodbye as the man is about to die.

Were he a rapist or murderer, I would not have this view....but he didn't rape or kill anyone and he has served time, both in our prisons and in poverty for many years in Brazil, lets just let him die and concentrate more on jailing those that matter to us now!

BTW.......I also wish he'd stayed in Brazil.....his healthcare ha cost the taxpayers LOADS to have him in our prisons!

[Caddy2000]

The man used to charge £70 for tourists to have a barbeque with him.
He flaunted the fact that he was wanted by us, and when he became ill and homesick he wanted to be forgiven?
It's not his crime that really annoys (although it does - big time!), it's his attitude, and expecting that all should be forgiven....
Nah, let him die inside

[gruntygiggles]

The man used to charge £70 for tourists to have a barbeque with him.
He flaunted the fact that he was wanted by us, and when he became ill and homesick he wanted to be forgiven?
It's not his crime that really annoys (although it does - big time!), it's his attitude, and expecting that all should be forgiven....
Nah, let him die inside

I'm not pardoning him and I know he's enjoyed some "celebrity status" as it were, but I don't think it's about him anymore. I honestly think the home office have been holding back until his health has got to this dire stage so that Biggs himself will not actually be aware or able to enjoy what can loosely be called freedom. I think it's a good decision for his family.....why punish them?

[Caddy2000]

Why did they get their hopes up? His sentence was how old when his son was born?

[gruntygiggles]

True, I just think there are more important things in life to get annoyed over. I've learned that if I get too annoyed by things like this, it really gets on my nerves and I'm better off just looking for the positives and going about my day happily. Right or wrong, it suits me. I get het up about the big things.....this just doesn't seem that big to me now as he has no ide he's even in hospital at the moment.

[punyXpress]

He'll have to get up early tomorrow - he's playing golf!
Me? Cynical?

[Ed]

The man is at death's door. What is the point in keeping him in prison? Leave him die in peace.

[sarah]

True, I just think there are more important things in life to get annoyed over. I've learned that if I get too annoyed by things like this, it really gets on my nerves and I'm better off just looking for the positives and going about my day happily. Right or wrong, it suits me. I get het up about the big things.....this just doesn't seem that big to me now as he has no ide he's even in hospital at the moment.

+1

[ranathari]

He's blind, unable to talk, deaf, is being fed through a tube because he can't swallow safely and can't walk. Irrespective of what he did, the right place for anyone in that kind of condition is a nursing home not a prison.

The general secretary of Aslef (train drivers' union) condemned Biggs' release on the grounds he's a danger to society, which shows how hilariously out of touch he is.

[slark01]

The man is at death's door. What is the point in keeping him in prison? Leave him die in peace.
+1

[Balddood]

The man is at death's door. What is the point in keeping him in prison? Leave him die in peace.

+1

He's an old man. He's paying the price for his "lavish" lifestyle.

The lynch mob returneth eh.

[sv-robo]

+1

Couldn't care less ...
+1

[the_lone_wolf]

Just watching the news, the punch line of this charade is that the taxpayer is paying £800-900 per week to keep him in a nursing home...:rolleyes:

[Von Teese]

I started reading this thread quite late on and was thinking, oh my God, he is serving 30 years for THAT???

Now I know what he did was wrong, but when a paedophile gets let off with a couple of years then let out for 'good behaviour' or a rapist or murderer walk free because of a glitch in the system or do very few years for their crime...how can we complain that an old man whose life is now practically over gets set free...
He is hardly going to be on the beach with some babes sipping coke and Bacardi! I know GG put something similar to this in the beginning of this thread too.


I personally dont care whether they leave him to rot and die in jail or let him out, either way the taxpayer is footing the bill, but then there are so many people abusing the system on the DSS, NHS, etc

I think that one old bloke who is about to pop his clogs is the least of our worries...
Good lord! Im sorry if I sound opinionated, its not intended that way, but I guess when you've seen some of the things Ive seen in my job, you just cant believe how some people can behave or live.

[yorkie_chris]

They're letting nonces, druggists and stabbists out with a slap on the wrist while they are still young, healthy and able to walk.

And people whinge that a decrepit old man is 'let out'. Huh?

[BanditPat]

An old man that is knocking on deaths door is let out of prison and unable to do anything after a third of his sentence. A rapist or a murderer gets less time for a crime which in my opinion is worse than what he's done and the murderer or rapist gets let out after half the time that he's spent in prison and 9 times out of 10 is fit enough to enjoy the rest of there life or commit another crime of the same nature. Let him live the rest of his life in piece, he isnt hurting any one sitting on a life support machine.

[Spiderman]

I'm with those who think prison spaces sould be for those who are a danger to people or society at large, those who will re-offend as soon as look at you.

Putting ANYONE who is not a danger in a cell is silly imho, make them do usefull things in their or other communities and keep the cells for the scum who should be kept off the streets for everyones sake.

[gruntygiggles]

I'm with those who think prison spaces sould be for those who are a danger to people or society at large, those who will re-offend as soon as look at you.

Putting ANYONE who is not a danger in a cell is silly imho, make them do usefull things in their or other communities and keep the cells for the scum who should be kept off the streets for everyones sake.

+1

Good to see sense being spoken on this subject.....the people that need locking up are the people like the guy that beat the living carp out my auntie and the bloke that broke into my house.

[Speedy Claire]

Reading this sickens me.... An elderly and infirm man is released from prison to spend his last days with his family. He was sentenced to 30 years for taking part in a train robbery.

A man horifically tortures and murders a 2 year old child and is jailed for 12 years. He also rapes a 2 years old girl and is given a life sentence... then our fantastic judicial system says he must serve at least 10 years!!!

Let`s put this into persepective:-

30 years for robbing a train

10 years for the torture and murder of a 2 year old child and raping another 2 year old child

I wonder what sentence Ronald Biggs would have been given had he committed his crime in 2009

[gruntygiggles]

Reading this sickens me.... An elderly and infirm man is released from prison to spend his last days with his family. He was sentenced to 30 years for taking part in a train robbery.

A man horifically tortures and murders a 2 year old child and is jailed for 12 years. He also rapes a 2 years old girl and is given a life sentence... then our fantastic judicial system says he must serve at least 10 years!!!

Let`s put this into persepective:-

30 years for robbing a train

10 years for the torture and murder of a 2 year old child and raping another 2 year old child

I wonder what sentence Ronald Biggs would have been given had he committed his crime in 2009

He was pretty much an accessory. He'd have given statements about the others and been let off with a bit of community service I bet!!!

[Caddy2000]

What he did to get into gaol in the first place isn't what bugs me; what really bugs me was his attitude. He knew his sentence (yes, too hard, but look at when it was set and what he was involved in), he escaped left the country lived in Brazil, got homesick and then just expected to be allowed back into Britian without any comeback?
I couldn't care less what sentence he would have recieved if he commited the crime today - he didn't.

[Biker Biggles]

Bad attitude = stay in gaol till you die?
Hanging too good for em Eh?

[Caddy2000]

Bad attitude = stay in gaol till you die?
Hanging too good for em Eh?


No, for a start I do not believe in capital punishment. My point is this:
He was found guilty, sentenced (30 years is a lot, but that is a completely different topic), he served a little time and then escaped and left the country. He then gets home sick, wants to come back, and then whines about being put back in gaol? that's the bit I have a problem with.
If he'd served his time chances are he'd have been out a long time ago, but he made his choice and he should have had to deal with that.

[punyXpress]

His second stretch was nowt to do with the crime he committed - it was because he raised 2 fingers to 'the system'