Ronnie Biggs, political prisoner?

Question

I'm not going to excuse what Biggs did but his sentence was way too OTT in the first place. I mean, 30 years for armed robbery? It's not like he killed anyone is it?

So he escaped and went to Rio (that's Rio as in Brazil, not Ferdinand!). When he eventually came back he was chucked back in jail. The other day his appeal to be let out on compassionate grounds was rejected. He is dying anyway and would have been no threat to anyone. The only reason he is in jail now is that he would be an embarrassment to the politicians. What Jack Straw has done is intolerably cruel. You see paedophiles and murderers released after only a few years so why not let a dying old man out? They're doing to him what they did to the Krays.

Anyone else angry about this? (don't even start me on that Michael Shields either, that's out of order as well!)

Answer 1

Let him do his time as a lesson to all thieving scum.

He only served one year before he escaped.

Answer 2

30 years was the sentence at the time, okay times have changed and he might get communirty service nowadays, would that be right?. somebody was attacked and died having never recovered, He was sentenced to 30 years was on the run for 31, see even if he'd served his whole sentence he'd have been out, came back an ill man because he couldn't afford medical treatment he would have been paroled long ago like the others had he not absconded - absconding incurs another penalty. He came back in 2001, has spent most of that time either on the hospital wing or in hospital, so he hasn't really spent much time as a 'prisoner' seems his son has more access to him than other prisoners family members. Difference with Michael Shields, somebody else has admitted that they did it! you can not compare the two.

Answer 3

why should be be allowed out just because he is dying.



If Jack Straw had let him out then everyone would be up in arms.



As someone else said Ronnie Biggs only came back to the UK cos he was dying - he caused someones death and caused his family trauma.



also the only reason you give for letting him out is that he is old, if he was a young man would you feel the same way, I doubt it.



ronnie biggs doesn't give two hoots about the UK or the public that he has basically stolen from and then milked when he ran out of money so I wouldn't worry about him

Answer 4

The money that was stolen comprised of old notes that were being sent by the Royal Mint to be incinerated. However, the audacity of the heist appealed to the public imagination and severely embarrassed the government of the day which took revenge on the gang members by ordering the judiciary to impose unreasonably excessive sentences.

It is saddening to see that Straw is continuing with the parliamentary tradition of intolerance and vindictiveness towards this old and very sick man.

Best of luck to Ronnie and his family!

Answer 5

Ain't it just funny how everyone shouts for long sentences for ARMED robbers, murderers, paedo's, knife wielding youths etc etc., but when it comes to scumbags like Biggs then everyone shouts 'too long a sentence'. How hypocritical. When his gang members were in prison where were the too long brigade? Why were they not demonstrating in the streets? If he had taken his punishment like the big man that he thinks he is then he would have been out of prison years ago. He is not some romantic naughty boy he is a thug that deserves to be where he is. If his health had not have deteriorated then he would still be in Brazil putting his 2 fingers up at this country.

Answer 6

A political prisoner is someone who is imprisoned for expressing and holding political opinions contrary to the state. We don't hold any of those in this country.



Biggs is in prison because he comitted a crime - not because of any political views. He has created his notoriety - thorough his own actions - he is responsible for the way his life is now. He chose to come back to the UK to be treated at tax payers expense on the NHS - after having lived a life of luxury on his ill gotten gains.



I expect he'll only serve another 3 years at the most anyway. The government is damned if it does, and damned if it doesn't in this case.

Answer 7

Poor Ronnie! He gave up 31 years of his life as an asylum seeker in Brazil forgoing his favourite bacon and eggs and now this just because his medical insurance ran out.

Answer 8

It's because he would only come out of jail to become a celebrity criminal. Letting him out would give succor to the criminal classes who have regard for a thug who was involved a crime that left a decent working man seriously injured. The driver who was injured has never been forgotten by decent people.



Another crime that involved a permanent head injury to a decent & honest man was the attack on the bar man in Bulgaria. Because of xenophobia it has been easy to create a myth that all Bulgarian's must be corrupt liars, in fact several people witnessed Shields carrying out the attack with their own eyes, his identity, along with other offenders, was determined. With witness evidence and statements made by other people involved in the attack, Shields was convicted.



The Graham Sankey confession is a red-herring because Sankey and Shields do not look alike, and he was not the person seen to carry out the attack, the crime 'confessed' to did not properly resemble the events shown to occur. In any case the confession was withdrawn, so was it true or not?

Answer 9

He can come out any time he likes only - he's got to say he's sorry first and as he has refused to do that let him rot in there. He did the crime and wouldn't do the time years ago, thought he could play the old age card too but in the end justice prevailed. Sorry seems to be the hardest word.

Answer 10

I think that Jack Straw made the right decision. This is a man who committed a grievous offence and he escaped from jail. I don't think that the original sentence was out of proportion. Remember, that if he'd not escaped, he'd have been eligible for parole after about fifteen years. However, as an escapee, he loses some of his parole rights. I see no reason to let him out now, even if this means that he dies in prison.

Answer 11

We are paying thousands to keep a weak and dying man in prison who is no risk to anyone. Jack Straw is doing this for purely political reasons

Answer 12

he's lucky that when he gave himself up he wasn't tried for jail-breaking , an offence for which he could have had eight years added to his sentence

Answer 13

If he was a Muslim terrorist and a real killer (which he was not) he would be free now, The man cannot walk and is dying, really I am sick to death of Jack Straw's disgusting weakness

Answer 14

Because he escaped justice for 31 years he should be absolved of his crime?



He is right where he belongs. If he is suffering, so be it.

Answer 15

does seem bizzare, espicially as the excuse was because he wasnt upset about the crime he couldnt go free, its basically because he embarressed people by escaping and became famous

Answer 16

LET RONNIE OUT FOR THAT PINT HE'S ALWAYS WANTED!!!

Think of the revenue that blag paid back into the country!!! I LOVED THAT BLAG and the money was en route to be burnt!!! Jamie Bulgar killers are walking bladdy free what does that tell you...IT STINKS MATE!!!

Answer 17

armed robbery is a very serious crime!

30 years sounds right to me!

Answer 18

It would certainly appear so.........Another reason he may be being made an example of is his association with the Sex Pistols......And 'We' can't have that now, can 'We'?