British government says no decision taken on Ronnie Biggs

Jul 1, 2009, 14:13 GMT

London - The British government Wednesday dismissed as 'unfounded speculation' reports that Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs could be freed from jail later this week in line with parole proceedings.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman denied that a decision had been taken on the release of the 79-year-old, who was hospitalized with a hip fracture Sunday.

Biggs, who surrendered to British police in 2001 after 36 years on the run, would have served a third of his 30-year sentence if he was to be freed.

But Justice Secretary Jack Straw has the last word on a recommendation by the prison parole board that the ailing prisoner should be transferred to a care home.

His legal adviser, Giovanni Di Stefano, said Wednesday that Biggs was 'seriously ill' and would have to stay in hospital in Norwich, eastern England, for the next two to six weeks.

'The only difference if Mr Straw has approved the parole is that the guards will disappear from the hospital,' said the lawyer.

Biggs, who has suffered several strokes, can barely walk and is fed through a tube, would be eligible for parole on July 3 at the earliest.

He gained notoriety for his role in the audacious 1963 raid on a Glasgow to London mail train in which a 15-strong gang got away with a cash haul of 2.6 million pounds - a record at the time.

Biggs escaped from London's Wandsworth jail 15 months after his conviction and sentencing and hid in France, Spain, Australia and Brazil, giving Scotland Yard detectives the slip for 36 years.