Biggs decides he has run enough
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs says he will not go on the run again to avoid any attempt to extradite him from Brazil to Britain under a new treaty between the two countries.
Biggs, 67, who escaped from Wandsworth Prison after being given a 30-year sentence for his part in the 1963 robbery, which netted pounds 2.6m, said: "I don't think I would run because, number one, I can't afford to. I don't have a current passport to go to another country." He told the BBC: "In the event of the Brazilian government deciding I must go back, then go back I shall ... prisons are much better these days, so I've heard."
Biggs, who lives in Rio de Janeiro with his son Mike, added that he would return to a British prison with equanimity.
"I ... don't visualise myself going back to prison for such a long time ... possibly I'd get out in something like six or seven, perhaps eight years and I could possibly do that.
"I'm going to be pretty old when I get out but there's a lot of old people going to prison today and they get through it somehow ... I've always said I'd be quite happy to spend my twilight years in jail and not be a nuisance to loved ones around me, as it were."
While Biggs insisted he would not go on the run again, he did say that he would "of course" fight extradition.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments