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Last free Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs flees to Rio de Janeiro

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The rope ladder prison escaping, plastic surgery altered, Ronnie Biggs became Britain’s most famous escapee with his exit to Brazil on this day. With no extradition treaty, Biggs returned home voluntarily after 31 years.

He would end his life begging on compassionate grounds to be released from the remainder of his sentence.

He had suffered two strokes and the resulting facial paralysis meant he could no longer speak or eat...