‘Great Train Robber’ Heads Home to Britain
A plane carrying Ronnie Biggs, Britain’s most famous outlaw and a fugitive from justice for 36 years, departed Rio de Janeiro to take the train robber home to certain arrest in Britain.
The 71-year-old Biggs, who escaped from an English prison two years after taking part in the 1963 “Great Train Robbery”--one of the most famous robberies in criminal history--has been eager to return to Britain after suffering at least two debilitating strokes.
Britain’s Sky TV said Biggs was heading to the Royal Air Force base of Northholt, near London.
Biggs was part of a gang that stole 2.6 million pounds, or nearly $47 million in today’s money, from the Glasgow-to-London mail train.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
