This weeks RIP's........

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Ronnie Biggs. I thought he died a while back.

he was released from prison in 2009 because he was at death's door....

It would seem release from prison has a remarkable remmisive (I might have made that word up, I'm not sure) effect. Mind you, I'm basing that on just two cases Biggsy Boy and Abdel-Bassett Hound McGregor.

[bobo the clown]

And didn't he nearly get illegally renditioned (or whatever the term is) by Slipper of the Yard? or did I dream that bit?

Biggs took every twist and turn to avoid extradition from Brazil ... not least having a Brazilian child.

It wasn't Slipper but some ex-Scots Guards who kidnaped him. They got him to Barbados, but he was returned to Brazil.

After being sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in 1964, Biggs escaped from Wandsworth Prison in 1965. Biggs travelled via Paris to Spain and then Melbourne, Australia, where, despite plastic surgery to alter his appearance, he was identified by his dental records after visiting a dentist.

In January 1968 after six years with the Flying Squad, and most of the wanted Train Robbers caught, Slipper decided to return to Division and gained promotion to Detective Chief Inspector in September of that year. After a few other postings, in March 1973 he returned to the Flying Squad as operational Chief Superintendent.

Despite rumours, Biggs remained untraced until 1974, when he gave an interview to the Daily Express. The newspaper passed his location on to the police, and Biggs was captured on 1 February. Slipper travelled to Brazil, where he attempted to arrest Biggs in a hotel in Rio de Janeiro, with the words "Long time no see, Ronnie." But the Brazilian government turned down the request for extradition, on the grounds that Biggs was to become the father of his pregnant Brazilian girlfriend's child (Michael Biggs, to be born August 16, 1974), and Slipper was forced to return home empty-handed. Famously, Slipper was photographed on the plane home, sleeping next to an empty seat, and was christened "Slip-up of the Yard" by the press.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

^ Ahh I was conflating two episodes into one.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Strange obit in the Economist.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/ ... hofarobber" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Has that 'newspaper' really gone downhill in the last 10 years, or have my standards become higher?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Strange obit in the Economist.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/ ... hofarobber" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Has that 'newspaper' really gone downhill in the last 10 years, or have my standards become higher?

Everything's gone downhill mother, everything.

[bobo the clown]

Strange obit in the Economist.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/ ... hofarobber" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Has that 'newspaper' really gone downhill in the last 10 years, or have my standards become higher?

It's always been a rag ... maybe you're only just noticing.

[William the White]

He'd be unfortunate to get 5 these days. He goes on the run and becomes more famous for that than almost all the rest of the gang and when he did return, old & frail, goes back into jail to continue his sentence PLUS some extra added for a jail-break.

So he should have, too ... I just contrast it with today's sentences and wonder which era has it right.

People get longer sentences, and less remission these days. Prison numbers have been growing for about 20 years. I'm not absolutely certain but I think we have the highest proportion of prisoners in the EU.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... lation.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Prison doesn't work, in any case. And we make no serious effort to make it work or find effective alternatives.

[Lord Kangana]

Got to laugh at the Daily Mail. They probably lionised him in a "good old British-non-of-yer-foreigners-type-criminal" article, then grassed him to the Fuzz. F*cking hypocrites. Again.

[bobo the clown]

Got to laugh at the Daily Mail. They probably lionised him in a "good old British-non-of-yer-foreigners-type-criminal" article, then grassed him to the Fuzz. F*cking hypocrites. Again.

... a strong and fair point, other than it being the Express.

"Blimey, they're more or less the same anyway !"

[bobo the clown]

He'd be unfortunate to get 5 these days.

... I just contrast it with today's sentences and wonder which era has it right.

People get longer sentences, and less remission these days.

Prison doesn't work, in any case. And we make no serious effort to make it work or find effective alternatives.

Would he, today, for being one of 16 people in a major heist, get 30 years ? Really ??

[William the White]

He'd be unfortunate to get 5 these days.

... I just contrast it with today's sentences and wonder which era has it right.

People get longer sentences, and less remission these days.

Prison doesn't work, in any case. And we make no serious effort to make it work or find effective alternatives.

Would he, today, for being one of 16 people in a major heist, get 30 years ? Really ??

You may be right. Perhaps mummy has access to sentencing guidelines and could offer a stab?

[thebish]

a more recent massive high-profile robbery would be the gold bullion robbery from heathrow in 1983... and they were actually armed...

An armed gang has carried out Britain's largest ever robbery at London's Heathrow Airport. Over £25m worth of gold bullion bound for the Far East was stolen from the Brinks Mat warehouse, about one mile (1.6km) outside the airport perimeter, between 0630 and 0815 GMT. Police have said a group of at least six men overcame the guards and successfully disabled a huge array of electronic security devices.The members of the gang - who were all armed and wearing balaclavas - also stole £100,000 worth of cut and uncut diamonds.

sentencing:

Police estimated 15 people were involved in the planning of the Brinks Mat robbery, but only three of the gang members were convicted. Micky McAvoy and Brian Robinson were both jailed for 25 years in December 1984, and Kenneth Noye served 14 years for handling some of the stolen gold.

Noye was released in 1990, but 10 years later was convicted of murdering Stephen Cameron in a road-rage fight on the M25 and is now serving a life sentence.

Despite a huge police investigation most of the gold has never been recovered.

[Lord Kangana]

Got to laugh at the Daily Mail. They probably lionised him in a "good old British-non-of-yer-foreigners-type-criminal" article, then grassed him to the Fuzz. F*cking hypocrites. Again.

... a strong and fair point, other than it being the Express.

"Blimey, they're more or less the same anyway !"

Same f*cking difference, your honour.

[bobo the clown]

Got to laugh at the Daily Mail. They probably lionised him in a "good old British-non-of-yer-foreigners-type-criminal" article, then grassed him to the Fuzz. F*cking hypocrites. Again.

... a strong and fair point, other than it being the Express.

"Blimey, they're more or less the same anyway !"

Same f*cking difference, your honour.

Which, if you highlight the space below my first input, is what I thought you might say, but written in white !!

I am a demi-God. It's clear.

[bobo the clown]

David Coleman .... now he WAS a big deal in his day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25476438" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Burnden Paddock]

David Coleman .... now he WAS a big deal in his day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25476438" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have to admit that for some reason, I thought that he was already dead. I can't think about David Coleman without thinking of his familiar, 'ONE-NIL'!

[bobo the clown]

La Bobo said the same. How rude !!

One-Nil will indeed stay with us all. But there are many Colemanballs to be aired in thenext few days I think.

He gave us the runner who opened his legs and showed his class, also famously the female weight-lifter who had earlier shown us her lovely snatch.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

...balls. RIP.

[Prufrock]

I thought he was already dead too!

[bw@bw]

For those of us of a certain age, he was the commentary to our years of growing up.

In those days the working week included Saturday morning - so the music of Grandstand on Saturday dinner time meant the start of the weekend - and sport. lots of it.

In those days Sport was not synonymous with Football, and the BBC had all the real live action - ITV had wrestling from Wryton Stadium!

When he started Sportsnight with Coleman on a Wednesday at 9pm - it meant best behaviour and homework done - or else you could not stay up and watch. Highlight of the week at 10 years old!

Britain was lucky to have a whole generation of superb sports commentators - and David Coleman was almost the last of them (according to wiki Peter O'Sullevan is still alive at 95).
They included Harry Carpenter, John Arlott, Dan Maskell, Bill McLaren, Kenneth Wolstenholme and my favourite of all Henry Longhurst.
They all knew how to commentate without going over the top. Unlike many of today's commentators who make a drama out of trivia.

And they were all journalists - good with words.
Nowadays you have to be an ex-player to get a chance (unless you are Adrian Chiles). Hence they may know more about the sport, but not the job they now do. Which is to add to the game, not tell you what you can see for yourself

Coleman stands out, not because he was better than the rest, but because he was an all-rounder. He could do a range of sports, all well. And because he was the front man.

Losing another hero is just another sign of growing older.