Sean Dempsey/PA Archive
Great train robber Ronnie Biggs, who has died at 84, played a part in one of the 20th century's most notorious crimes.
When he fled justice and became a celebrity crook, he was labelled as both a loveable rogue and a cowardly thug.
Here is his life in pictures:
Ronnie Biggs: The Life and Times
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(FILES) In this file picture taken on March 20, 2013 Ronnie Biggs, 83 notorious for his role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963 gestures to waiting photographers as he arrives to attend the funeral of the mastermind of the robbery, Bruce Reynolds at Priory Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great in central London. Half a century after Britain's infamous Great Train Robbery, the most notorious member of the gang, Ronnie Biggs, is unrepentant and says he is proud of his role in the heist. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW COWIE (Photo credit should read ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Ronnie Biggs, 83 (R) notorious for his role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963 looks on as he arrives to attend the funeral of the mastermind of the robbery, Bruce Reynolds at Priory Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great in central London, on March 20, 2013. The mastermind of Britain's 1963 Great Train Robbery, Bruce Reynolds, died on February 28, 2013 aged 81 after a life that he said had been cursed by his role in one of the 20th century's most notorious crimes. Reynolds was the brains of a gang that held up a mail train in southern England and made off with almost £2.6 million -- worth around £40 million today (47 million euros, $63 million). AFP PHOTO / ANDREW COWIE (Photo credit should read ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Funeral of Bruce Reynolds(03 of36)
Ronnie Biggs surrounded by mourners as he attends the funeral of Bruce Reynolds, the mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery of 1963 at St Bartholomew The Great Church in Smithfield, London. (credit:PA)
Funeral of Bruce Reynolds(04 of36)
Ronnie Biggs gestures to the waiting press at the funeral of Bruce Reynolds, the mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery of 1963 at St Bartholomew The Great Church in Smithfield, London. (credit:PA)
BRITAIN-CRIME-FUNERAL(05 of36)
Ronnie Biggs, 83 (C) notorious for his role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963 looks on as he arrives to attend the funeral of the mastermind of the robbery, Bruce Reynolds at Priory Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great in central London, on March 20, 2013. The mastermind of Britain's 1963 Great Train Robbery, Bruce Reynolds, died on February 28, 2013 aged 81 after a life that he said had been cursed by his role in one of the 20th century's most notorious crimes. Reynolds was the brains of a gang that held up a mail train in southern England and made off with almost £2.6 million -- worth around £40 million today (47 million euros, $63 million). AFP PHOTO / ANDREW COWIE (Photo credit should read ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
"Great Train Robber" Ronnie Bigs Returns to England(06 of36)
388860 02: (UK OUT) The 'Great Train Robber' Ronnie Biggs is led from a police station May 7, 2001 in Chiswick, West London, UK after being arrested on his return to the UK. Biggs, aged 71, who was one of a gang convicted of robbing a mail train of the equivalent of almost $4 million USD in 1963 has successfully avoided British justice for 35 years. The aging escapee who is seriously ill after three separate strokes, was returned to jail by a magistrate while legal descisions are made regarding whether this frail pensioner should serve the remaining 28 years of his prison sentence. (Photograph by BWP Media/Newsmakers) (credit:Getty Images)
Britain's Great Train Robber, Ronnie Big(07 of36)
Britain's Great Train Robber, Ronnie Biggs (R), poses for photographers with a copy of his new autobiography 'Odd Man Out: The Last Straw' during the launch of the book in London on November 17, 2011. Ronnie Biggs, 82, is best known for his role in the 1963 Great Train Robbery and for escaping prison in 1965 and living as a fugitive for 36 years. In 2001, he returned to Britain voluntarily and spent several years in prison, and was later released in 2009 on compassionate grounds as his health deteriorated. The launch of his new autobiography marks a rare public appearance and Bigg's first ever British press conference since the infamous train heist in 1963, according to his official website. The new book updates his 1994 autobiography and covers his early life of crime, the Great Train Robbery, his escape from Wandsworth prison, life on the run in Australia and Brazil, and his kidnapping. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Britain's Great Train Robber, Ronnie Big(08 of36)
Britain's Great Train Robber, Ronnie Biggs, poses for photographers with a copy of his new autobiography 'Odd Man Out: The Last Straw' during the launch of the book in London on November 17, 2011. Ronnie Biggs, 82, is best known for his role in the 1963 Great Train Robbery and for escaping prison in 1965 and living as a fugitive for 36 years. In 2001, he returned to Britain voluntarily and spent several years in prison, and was later released in 2009 on compassionate grounds as his health deteriorated. The launch of his new autobiography marks a rare public appearance and Bigg's first ever British press conference since the infamous train heist in 1963, according to his official website. The new book updates his 1994 autobiography and covers his early life of crime, the Great Train Robbery, his escape from Wandsworth prison, life on the run in Australia and Brazil, and his kidnapping. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(FILES) This picture taken on January 21(09 of36)
(FILES) This picture taken on January 21, 1994 shows fugitive Ronnie Biggs, one of the masterminds of Britain's Great Train Robbery in 1963, holding up a poster of himself during promotions for his book 'Odd Man Out'. Ronnie Biggs is in hospital with pneumonia, his son told AFP on February 14, 2009. AFP PHOTO/FILES (Photo credit should read FILES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(FILES) This file picture taken on Janua(10 of36)
(FILES) This file picture taken on January 1994 in Rio de Janeiro shows fugitive Ronnie Biggs, known as the 'Great Train Robber,' flashing the victory sign while presenting his autobiography 'Odd Man Out' to the press. British authorities will release ailing Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs from prison on compassionate grounds, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said on August 6, 2009. AFP PHOTO/FILES (Photo credit should read FILES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Funeral of Bruce Reynolds(11 of36)
Ronnie Biggs with Nick Reynolds attend the funeral of Bruce Reynolds, the mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery of 1963 at St Bartholomew The Great Church in Smithfield, London. (credit:PA)
Brazilian Television technicians install microphon(12 of36)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Brazilian Television technicians install microphones 21 January 1994 on Ronald Biggs (C) of England, before a press conference broadcast to England by satellite in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Biggs, who participated in a dramatic bank robbery in England in 1963 and fled to Brazil, appeared at the press conference to promote a book about himself. (Photo credit should read ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ronnie Biggs Returns(13 of36)
Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs being driven in to high security Belmarsh prison in south east, five hours after touching down in Britain from Brazil in an executive jet. Biggs was sent to Belmarsh after making a brief appearance at West London magistrates court. * Outside the court his legal team said he would be appealing against his outstanding sentence. Biggs broke out of jail with 28 years still to serve. He was whisked to court shortly before noon after surrendering to Scotland Yard detectives at RAF Northolt in north west London this morning. (credit:PA)
Ronnie Biggs Returns(14 of36)
Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs being driven in to high security Belmarsh prison in south east, five hours after touching down in Britain from Brazil in an executive jet. Biggs was sent to Belmarsh after making a brief appearance at West London magistrates court. * Outside the court his legal team said he would be appealing against his outstanding sentence. Biggs broke out of jail with 28 years still to serve. He was whisked to court shortly before noon after surrendering to Scotland Yard detectives at RAF Northolt in north west London this morning. (credit:PA)
Biggs Return(15 of36)
The plane carrying the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs lands at RAF Northolt, West London. He was arrested at 9.05am under a warrant for being unlawfully at large 20 minutes after arriving back in Britain. * Officers from the Metropolitan Police detained Biggs at RAF Northolt where he flew in in a private executive jet at 8.45am. (credit:PA)
Biggs Return(16 of36)
Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs arrives at RAF Northolt in London as he returns to Britain after 35 years on the run. A private jet carrying the famous fugitive the 6,000 miles from Rio de Janeiro touched down at around 08.45am. * The ailing crook has 28 years of a 30-year prison sentence still to serve for his role in the 1963 robbery of the Glasgow-to-London mail train, which yielded 2.6 million. (credit:PA)
Crime - Ronnie Biggs Televison Appeal - 1971(17 of36)
The latest known photo of Ronald Biggs on an Australian beach, which was circulated in a dramatic television appeal on London Weekend Television, as detectives from Scotland Yard's Flying Squad explained why they believed Biggs may have returned to South London. (credit:PA)
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Mike Biggs, the 14-year-old son of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, visits New Scotland Yard with his mother Raimunda and actor Paul Freeman, who is playing Ronnie in the film The Prisoner of Rio. Mike and Raimunda arrived in London to publicise the film and plead for a Royal pardon. (credit:PA)
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Ronnie Biggs in Brazil in 1980 (credit:PA)
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Ronnie Biggs in The Great Rock N Roll Swindle. (credit:PA)
Great Train Robbery anniversary(21 of36)
File photo dated 21/09/1988 of Ronnie Biggs , the Great Train Robber, during the filming of "The Prisoner of Rio". (credit:PA)
Great Train Robbery anniversary(22 of36)
File photo dated 08/07/1963 of Ronnie Biggs, 35, jailed for 30 years for his part in the Great Train Robbery, was one of four prisoners that escaped from Wandsworth prison. (credit:PA)
Film - Prisoner of Rio - London(23 of36)
Paul Freeman portrays Ronnie Biggs in a film about the Great Train Robber's life. Martelo Rabelo plays his son Mike. (credit:PA)
Great Train Robbery/Ronald Biggs(24 of36)
Ronald Biggs, sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the Great Train Robbery. 8/7/65: Biggs has escaped from Wandsworth Jail in south London with three other prisoners. The four men were exercising in the prison yard with other prisoners when a rope and tubular ladder were thrown over the wall. The men escaped in three waiting cars. Biggs is the second man convicted over the Robbery to escape. (credit:PA)
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Jack Mills, the driver (left) and the second driver David Whitby at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, to give evidence in court concerning the 2.6 million pound Great mail Train Robbery. 7/5/01: Ronnie Biggs is expected to arrive back in the UK. * at 11am after 35 years in exile. (credit:PA)
RONNIE BIGGS & BRAZILIAN BEAUTY(26 of36)
RONNIE BIGGS , THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBER,PICTURED HER WITH A CARNIVAL BEAUTYDURING THE FILMING OF "THE PRISONER OFRIO". (credit:PA)
Crime - The Great Train Robbery(27 of36)
Great Train Robber Ronald Biggs (second l) with his son Michael (l), from his common-law Brazilian wife Raimunda (not in pic), and Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols in Rio de Janeiro (credit:PA)
Great Train Robbery Exhibition(28 of36)
The police record sheet of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs. Thames Valley Police have opened a new exhibition at their museum near Reading, to mark the 40th anniversary of the audacious 2.5 million robbery which happened on the night of August 8, 1963. . (credit:PA)
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Ronnie Biggs with Raimunda Nascimento de Castro (credit:PA)
Crime - Ronnie Biggs Televison Appeal - 1971(30 of36)
A photo of Ronald Biggs taken on ANZAC Day in 1969, which was circulated in a dramatic television appeal on London Weekend Television, as detectives from Scotland Yard's Flying Squad explained why they believed Biggs may have returned to South London. (credit:PA)
News - Royal pardon letter - Mike Biggs - Buckingham Palace - London(31 of36)
Mike Biggs, 14-year-old son of fugitive the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, at Buckingham Palace to hand in a letter addressed to the Queen asking for a Royal pardon for his father. Mike is visiting Britain with his Brazilian mother, Raimunda, to promote a film about his father called "Prisoner of Rio". (credit:PA)
Ronnie Biggs released(32 of36)
Michael Biggs, the son of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, holds his fathers prison release documents outside Norwich and Norfolk Hospital. (credit:PA)
Historic Documents Revealed By National Archives(33 of36)
LONDON - SEPTEMBER 30: Police mug shots of Ronnie Biggs are seen on display at The National Archives on September 30, 2005 in London, England. The National Archives have released documentation relating to the hunt for Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, showing attempts by Scotland Yard to have Biggs brought back to the UK in the 1970's from Brazil. (Photo by Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Historic Documents Revealed By National Archives(34 of36)
LONDON - SEPTEMBER 30: A surveillance photo of Ronnie Biggs is seen on display at The National Archives on September 30, 2005 in London, England. The National Archives have released documentation relating to the hunt for Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, showing attempts by Scotland Yard to have Biggs brought back to the UK in the 1970's from Brazil. (Photo by Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Historic Documents Revealed By National Archives(35 of36)
LONDON - SEPTEMBER 30: A surveillance photo of Ronnie Biggs is seen on display at The National Archives on September 30, 2005 in London, England. The National Archives have released documentation relating to the hunt for Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, showing attempts by Scotland Yard to have Biggs brought back to the UK in the 1970's from Brazil. (Photo by Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Picture taken 08 August 1963 at Cheddington station, showing the Glasgow-London Royal mail train, which was attacked in the night by 15 armed robbers, including Ronnie Biggs, the right-hand of the 'brain' Bruce Reynolds, who stole 120 bags containing 5 million dollars, mostly in used bank notes, near Bridego Bridge north of London. The 'Great Train Robbery' of the Glasgow-London Royal Mail train in Buckinghamshire is one of the biggest hold-up in British history. (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)