WANSTEAD MP Harry Cohen has joined calls for great train robber Ronnie Biggs to be released from prison.

Mr Cohen, who is standing down at the next election following intense scrutiny of his expenses, thinks that the 80-year-old criminal should be not die while incarcerated.

Mr Cohen told a parliamentary debate: “The real issue is the Secretary of State[Jack Straw]'s decision to overturn the Parole Board's recommendation that Mr Biggs be released.

“That was an unreasonable and cruel decision, and there is some evidence that has been put forward by some lawyers that it was a misuse of power and, indeed, ultra vires.

“Clearly, Mr Biggs had to spend his time in prison, but his 30-year sentence was excessive. I looked up the Dome diamond robbers, who I think are pretty comparable to those who took part in the great train robbery.

“Two of them got 18 years, two got 15 years and one got five years. Mr Biggs would have been released if he had received such a sentence.

“It is more comparable to the sentences passed on serious sex offenders and mass murderers, and was inappropriate.”

Biggs and his gang stole £2.6million from a mail train in 1963. After being convicted he escaped from HM Prison Wandsworth by scaling the wall with a rope ladder.

He then fled to Paris, where he acquired new identity papers and underwent plastic surgery before spending many years on the run in Brazil.