A plane carrying Ronald Biggs, Britain's most famous outlaw and a fugitive from justice for 35 years, took off from Rio yesterday to take the train robber home to certain arrest in Britain, police said.
The 71-year-old fugitive, who escaped British justice after taking part in the 1963 "Great Train Robbery" - one of the most famous robberies in criminal history - has been eager to return home after suffering at least two debilitating strokes.
Brazilian television showed live footage of Biggs and his entourage boarding the 14-seat plane before it took off from Rio's international airport.
British police said he would be treated like any other fugitive from justice. His return, whether to jail, hospital or freedom, will end life on the run for Biggs, who received a 30-year sentence for the train robbery but escaped from a London prison in 1965 after serving just 15 months. Biggs avoided extradition to Britain and won the right to live permanently in Brazil after fathering a son there 25 years ago.
The return of Biggs, who is partly paralysed and cannot speak, is likely to provoke a media frenzy in Britain, where opinion is divided about whether he should go to prison or be pardoned on the grounds of ill health.
The raid on the Glasgow-to-London mail train netted more than £2.6 million, the equivalent of £34 million in today's money. It became a legendary crime, spawning several films and making heroes out of villains in the eyes of the British public.
Police said Biggs was free to leave Brazil.
Mr Kevin Crace, a Biggs family friend and spokesman, said the 14-seat jet was provided by the Sun to fly Biggs to Britain.