In pictures: Life of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs
- Published
Ronnie Biggs, a petty London criminal, gained notoriety for his part in the 1963 Great Train Robbery. He was offered a part in the robbery by its mastermind, Bruce Reynolds, who Biggs had met in jail.
During the gang's ambush of the train - seen here - driver Jack Mills was hit on the head and they escaped with £2.6m.
Biggs's role in the 15-man gang was a small one - although it was his fingerprints left at their hideout, Leatherslade Farm, which helped secure convictions.
The married father-of-three was jailed for 30 years at Aylesbury Courts of Assize in 1964. Just 15 months later he escaped from Wandsworth Prison and fled to Australia with his family.
After Biggs evaded Interpol by fleeing to Brazil, several attempts to bring him to justice failed. Detective Chief Superintendent Jack Slipper (centre) returned from Rio empty-handed in 1974.
In Rio, Biggs had a son, Michael, with his Brazilian stripper girlfriend, Raimunda Nascimento de Castro.
Biggs continued to enjoy his celebrity status while on the run - all the while thumbing his nose at the British authorities. He celebrated his 70th birthday in Rio with fellow train robber Bruce Reynolds (right).
It was a deal with the Sun newspaper which finally saw an ailing Biggs return to the UK in 2001.
Biggs was detained on arrival, although Michael conducted a sustained campaign to release his father. Biggs was released on compassionate grounds in 2009 and was transferred from prison hospital to a care home.
But Biggs's lack of respect for the authorities remained undimmed. He was captured gesticulating at the funeral of Great Train Robbery mastermind Bruce Reynolds in March 2013.
"There's a difference between criminals and crooks. Crooks steal. Criminals blow some guy's brains out. I 'm a crook" - Ronne Biggs