‘Great Train Robber’ Ronnie Biggs dies

Ronnie Biggs, who was involved in London’s biggest criminal case known as the Great Train Robbery, died on Thursday. He was 84.

On Aug. 8, 1963, at least 12 robbers, including Biggs, shocked the world by stopping a mail train headed to Glasgow from London. The gangs then stole up to 2.6 million pounds ($4.25 million). 

Biggs was sentenced to 30 years in Wandsworth prison, located in London, but in 1965 he escaped and ended up settling in Brazil.

Biggs was arrested again in 1974. Thanks to his son and related Brazilian laws, he wasn’t sent back to Britain.

After suffering from a series of strokes and other diseases, Biggs returned to Britain voluntarily in 2001.

“As always, his timing was perfect to the end,” his publicists said.

Biggs had not been one of the ringleaders of the robbery, but he became its most famous participant. The British media remained fascinated with him until his death.

The 50th anniversary of the train robbery this year brought a slew of new books and articles, and the very day of Biggs’ death coincided with a long-planned BBC television show about the crime.

In 2002, Biggs married Raimunda Rothen, who is the mother to his youngest son Michael. They survive him, as do two other children -- Chris and Farley -- from his first marriage to Charmian Brent. A third son, Nicholas, died in a car crash in 1971.

By Im Woo-jung and news reports
(iwj@heraldcorp.com)