If only the Home Office was as dutiful in giving harsh sentences to "grooming gang " members and other foreign criminals.

Ron missed a trick! Had he made a sizable donation to the Conservative party (or a senior minister) before coming home he would have likely been given suitable leeway to live out his last days freely with a bit more compassion and dignity - that's just how it works in this country.

If he wasn't ill he'd have never come back.

For the government to take revenge like that is so petty.

What a great watch...being born in 1964 I knew about Ronnie but only through what the papers had put out, this was truly eye-opening as to what really happened. So glad I watched it and you can't go wrong with the legend that is Phil Daniels as the commentator!

This is a story, and one of many, that illustrates, quite vividly, why government and its various arms are held in such low esteem. As time goes on respect for the law is diminishing to vanishing point.

Actually it was not Rupert Murdocks jet that flew Ron back from Rio. I was working for Occitania Jet Services at the time and it was our Falcon 900EX that flew him back to Northolt. We were approached by the Sun Newspaper via a broker to charter the Falcon 900EX to fly a group of journalists and some of Ron’s former colleagues down to Rio to collect Ron. I remember briefing the Hostess about the flight and the catering order which was beer and curry. It was all hush hush while we planned the flight, but once we departed London the Sun splashed the front cover of the newspaper with the headline ‘we’re Ron our way’ and a picture of our jet getting airborne with the Sun logo on the tail. The return flight a few days later and the destination was kept secret to throw off journalists from rival newspapers. We flew to RAF Northolt where the aircraft was met by the Police. Talking with the Captain and Hostess after the flight had ended, I learnt that Ron was indeed very ill and needed oxygen during the flight. He certain,y did not eat or drink, but we made a bed up for him and kept him as comfortable as possible.

Ronnie Biggs was a very small part of the great train robbery. He was hyped by the media and by his long time on the run.

Great documentary, many thanks for sharing.

My friend from München, Blank Frank, was his friend, visited him in Brazil few times. Ronnie wasn't a violent thug, he was a thief. Not a compliment, just a fact. I lost contact with Frank, i miss him,he used to visit me in Croatia, he is a living punk enciclopaedia, name a band-he knows. Not only punk, the guy lives for music and travel. That's a life worth living

Remember Assange, still in Belmarsh 😡

The establishment reaped what they sowed. If he had been given (and the rest) 10 years in prison which would have been reasonable, there would have been no escapes and no more expense to this country, it was despicable behaviour by several governments but no more than expected of them 🙄

Michael was great. He saved his father and made a lot of money. Great story.

all this for a nonviolent crime, he didn't molest, r@pe or kill anyone. no matter what Ronnie got the biggest laugh. funny how Scotland Yard can beak law and get away with it when their supposed to be the "good guys"

Ronnie Biggs was doin time...till he done a bunk...Now he says he saw the light..and sold his sole to Punk...GREAT ROCK nROLL SWINDLE

Dont ever forget the driver of that train was so badly injured he never worked again.Biggs is no hero.

If this was not true, I would never have believed it! Great story!!

Happy mondays spent the day chilling with Ronnie at his home having a bbq and drinks

i dont believe that 'honest' Journalist McKenzie for a minute.

He has a lot of people who think well of him that says a lot about the man !

Us brits dont celebrate this man as a good guy,or someone to look up to. Ronnie Biggs was a criminal but his part in the train robbery was very small. He didnt cosh the driver or participate in the act of the robbery.He dropped off a replacement train driver at the scene,nothing more. The govt tried to make an example of him. British people love it when someone gets one over on the govt ,which is why he became a bit of a infamous celebrity hero. Criminal yes but not a dangerous guy and not deserving of 30yrs inside.

Criminally underated..

Really nice guy I was n Belmarsh wi him He'd lost his voice by then but still he'd point out words on a board of letters kinda thing Charming man really bless his soul❤

Ronnie Biggs was doing time 'till he done a bunk Now he says he's seen the light And sold his sole for punk - Sex Pistols

Needs updating

Brazil had no extradition treaty. Ronnie was a clever bloke!

A very very good interesting watch,narrated superbly by Phil Daniels

I was next to ronnie biggs at belmarsh in mental health care, once he had finished with his paper he would always get the screes to give it to me, this was 2003 and he could hardly speak back then and would breath very heavily

Fantastic story and think about it, if he hadnt robbed that train, his life would be very ordinary. He has lived more than most of us will ever do...but tell me: "The LIFE of England's BIGGEST ROBBER".. So.. how big was he...in stones, pound or kilos??

The guy said his life wasn’t that great is he fucking demented led a life better than most lol

I bumped into Ronnie on avenida copal cabana rio. He was wearing an English written t shirt. I thought I know that face then he was.gone

You got to love this dude for the way he tormented the British justice system and of course the queen but I reckon Rio D.J. used Ronnie as a tourist attraction for the British people to come on holiday to Brazil Inc the gangster's who needed to get away for a minute in hiding if they have done a bank job or whatever it was but he managed to live somewhat a half decent life in Rio God bless you Ronnie Biggs a true soldier that never snitch on the rest of whoever was involved in the train robbery that was supposed to be great huh I have read stuff through the years that people stole money that was meant to get to Ronnie but I'm not sure if that's true but more than likely is knowing the know if you know you know man ha ha ha go on my son give it to them where it hurts the most, respect brother !!!

Apparently his work as a joiner was criminal as well.

Wow should be proud England 😢

Guy is such a player❤😂

What a waste of lives.....nobody ever got rich on this , just heartache for most of them. Great story though

Emotional 😢❤

30 years was always excessive: 12 years was for the robbery and 18 was for the embarrassment, in an era of Profumo and the start of major social change, and when the Krays had as much power as the police. 30 years was an establishment backlash when the establishment was trying to show they were boss.

What a great wife he had

This is so sad.RIP ronny Biggs never forgotten ❤

God bless him

Keeping him in Belmarsh was a disgrace.

Is this Phil Daniels narrating?

I remember back in 2001 when he gave himself up, I got a call from all the newspapers to get my take on things sharing the same name as one of his kids. I could have have had some fun for sure, but I said they'd made a mistake as I just shared a name.

Quite an old documentary but interesting. I got to know Ron in 97 in Rio. A friend and colleague of mine took me to his place. There was a barbecue and a German film team was there in order to direct a documetary. An English friend of his played the trumpet. Ron did build the biggest and strongest joints I have ever smoked....but he did not like cocaine. When I was snorting a line on the toilet, he took me by surprise and was not amused. Anyway, apart from that we got along very well. Of course, I met Mike (Mikinho) there. He was a young dude at that time, in his twenties...and I remember a Belgian journalist called Phyllis Huber (who knew Mick Jagger), a close friend of Ron`s. In one of my books I wrote a short story about that barbecue (I made up something in addition), which is a mix of fiction and reality. Time goes by indeed ....I was 36 at that time and now I am 62.......R.I.P. Ron.....really R.I.P.

"I'd never met such a good looking man" should have gone to specsavers

I remember an old theatre lady telling me that Biggs was trying to get out of one of the Australian cities. There was a theatre production happening where they were taking Egyptian stage scenery from one city to the other apparently they had him hiding in one of the oesophagus . The police actually pulled up the truck but the people said we have to be in the next city whichever that was, and will sue you if we can't have this stuff set up in time so they let them go

is this the police force that doesn't prosecute 'historic ' crimes, or does that only apply to rich tories ?

Just reading the title, no where near Englands biggest robber. He had a minor role in the GTR and was just a bloke who could carry shit.

Ronnie should have stayed where he was, UK is nothing to go back to

The British Governments insistence on Biggs being incarcerated in a Maximum Security Prison, just smacks of vengefulness, a malevolent vindictiveness.

Many years ago i read about this trainrobbery and find it fascinating........i also saw the movie......

He was in Adelaide for awhile set up his own business with a removal van which would be parked outside the Grange Hotel at the seafront which was his local pub the removal van had "Biggs Removals " painted on sides .it was from there he fled to Melbourne then onto Rio

Ronnie wrote the book on spin Doctory

Good one XX mate love Declan X Trev Dec singer songwriter xx respect Declan ❤rip Johnny ❤

Having a pot of tea 😂 brilliant Old school gentlemen liertally just needed to live

My Grandfather was Ronald Graves. Mum told me about how Biggs and his gang came to their house and turfed the entire inside of the house out onto the street, and torched it all. The British Government sent them to Australia and changed their names to try and protect them. We where never allowed to talk about it when grandad was alive. When i was a child and Biggs came to Australia i remember times being very tense. They thaught he was here to get grandad.

I have 8 beautiful daughter's, my youngest, poppy Ronnie xotram, was named after you, my hero

I love how his punishment was sewing mail bags😂😂✌

I am a huge admirer of Simon Jordan, a proponent of integrity in sport

There should be a show on the one who got away and spent the lot and had a happy life 😊

Brilliant documentary , Ronnie Biggs kept the British Establishment on its toes , very sad to see the end they was never going to let him out , but even from that bed on a hospital wing I think he stuck two fingers up to the Establishment , F**K what the press say , I say "VERY WELL DONE Ronnie" you will always be a LEGEND !!!!!!!

If it was me I would have stayed and not given the establishment the satisfaction, he had a great life and really stuck his fingers up to the system a clever man.

He came home for free NHS treatment for his ailments. No hero to me.

Toniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight I'm a rock n' roll star

Who are the two birds @38:00

England's BIGGEST ROBBER was Lightening Lee Murray .

Raimunda impressed me as the best kind of woman and her son is clearly a chip off her block. I hope Ronnie gets a piece of blue sky soon...

Actor.. Proof of all CLAIMS Required.

Pure legend of a man 🫡

Much love& respect for a true Legend

Oh dear mr daniells

Poor Charmian, she really suffered

What right did the jock have to kidnap him

We Brazilians loved Biggs and how the Brazilian government gave the finger to the arrogant English police.

I like this guy! You cant be mad at him.

They could've sent him to an open prison. Maximum security Belmarch, come on they really wanted to make an example of him then.

Go against the government, and it's a big problem for you (and Assange). However, if the government does wrong, then it's still a big problem for you (Post Office subpostmasters)!

What is the point of keeping that old con in prison ?

Never knew him but I have been in his house in alpine road Redhill.

Not an evil man, plenty worse about. Great character.

No one is innocent never sold 7.5 million copies….! It was a double A side with Sid Vicious My Way and made the top 20 in the UK.

Brilliant...and no he should not be in prison.... too delicate at the end.

Or maybe even try prose ting those who ruined multiple lives through the PO Horizon debacle … but no

Best times in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 .. Look at it now

Lesson, do the crime, do the time.

The biggest criminals you never hear about. You become too well known, you are a liability.

He was a bloody fool to return to the UK and prison.

His wife’s a legend stuck by him thick and thin

Jack Mills the driver told author Piers Paul Reed that they never hurt him bad. But the police told the doctors to put the world's biggest bandage on his head;it was like a fucking turban. They alstold Mills that he would get more compensation if he played up how bad he was hurt.the train gang were working class heroes but by saying that they beat the driver viciously and left him for dead made them less popular. I had a brain tumor removed that required had my skull being taken off but my bandage wasn't half the size of driver Mills'

He is a great guy and lived a very good life

One of my grandfathers oldest friends

Bruce Reynolds painted as a mastermind, cant have been that good of a mastermind, didn't he leave his prints/forensics all over Leatherslade farm.

Poor old Ronnie, he wouldn't even make the top 10,000 list of Who-Stole-What in this Country. The biggest Tea-Leafs remain in the shadows unknown......or in Politics.

In humane conditions is appalling in a civilised place proportionate circumstances no way

Who wouldn’t want to be in this family…😂😂 RIP

Im sure roy shaw and Norman wisdom are brothers they both grew up a stone trow )??from each other and the milkmans name was Erny 😂

my uncle & mother was brought up next door to him in croydon

Who was the team that was supposed to clean up 🤔

What a life story. I don’t believe keeping this man in jail accomplishes anything 🤷‍♂️ All that seems to be happening is making an example out of someone 😞