MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs could be out of jail next July

Biggs' 80th birthday is on August 8 - exactly 46 years on from the robbery

Britain’s Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs is facing an anxious wait to learn if he will be freed from jail after his parole hearing adjourned Thursday without a result. A spokesman for the Parole Board said a decision was likely by July this year, when Biggs becomes eligible for release after serving a third of his sentence.

Biggs, 79, from Lambeth, London, was a member of a 15-strong gang which attacked the Glasgow to London mail train in Buckinghamshire and made off with £2.6 million on August 8 1963.

He was sentenced to 30 years behind bars, but escaped from Wandsworth prison after just 15 months and lived in Spain, Australia and Brazil before returning voluntarily to the UK in 2001. He is currently being held in Norwich prison but has suffered a series of health problems.

In February, he was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital suffering from pneumonia.

The final decision rests with Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who will consider the case after he has received the Parole Board's report.

A spokesman for the Parole Board said: “A Parole Board panel met today to consider the case of Mr Ronald Biggs; there are, however, certain issues which still need to be clarified before a final recommendation can be made”.

”We are confident that the information can be made available for a decision to be made in time for Mr Biggs's parole eligibility date in July 2009. The recommendation would be to the Justice Secretary, who has the final decision in this type of case”.

“He is very ill, he is going to need 24-hour care and until there is a place established where he will be accepted, a decision will not be made.”

Biggs' lawyer Geovanni Stefano said it was not a big issue and he was confident a decision will be made before July.

“At this age, and with the state of his health, he is hardly likely to offend again.”