Illness prompts early review of Biggs' jail term

The train robber Ronnie Biggs is having his 30-year jail sentence reviewed early because of his failing health.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission is considering representation from the lawyers for Biggs, who argue that the 72-year-old was given a "disproportionate" sentence for his "minor" role in the Great Train Robbery. The review, which is expected to take several months, began amid growing concerns for Biggs' health. He is in hospital receiving treatment for internal bleeding and vomiting.

After the review the commission will decide whether to refer his case to the Court of Appeal, which would in turn determine whether to reduce the sentence. The commission cannot take into account the prisoner's health when deciding whether to refer the case.

The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, does, however, have the power to release an inmate early if the prisoner has a terminal illness.

Biggs had served only 15 months of the sentence for his part in the 1963 robbery of the Glasgow-to-London mail train, which netted £2.6m, when he broke out of Wandsworth prison in 1965. He flew back to England from Brazil in May this year and was sent to jail to complete his sentence.

He returned for health reasons after reportedly suffering two strokes and a minor heart attack. He was moved from Belmarsh prison to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich, London, last Friday. His condition is said to be stable.