Biggs reunited with ex-lover

Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs today had an emotional reunion with his former girlfriend on his sixth day in hospital.

Raimunda Rothen, 54, flew over from her home in Switzerland, to be by her former lover’s bedside at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, south east London.

Speaking through her son, Michael, in her native Portuguese, Ms Rothen wept as she described her ‘‘shock’’ when she saw how frail Biggs was.

The Brazilian born mother of three, who last saw Biggs in Rio de Janeiro three years ago, said she flew to London because she was ‘‘very concerned about his health’’.

‘‘It was not an easy moment,’’ she added.

Michael, 26, said: ‘‘At the moment, we are quite concerned that they are trying to move my father back to Belmarsh Prison.

‘‘Once he is in Belmarsh we have no access to him.

‘‘They are trying to move him tomorrow and everyone’s really concerned.’’

Biggs has remained in a stable condition since he was admitted to hospital on Saturday after suffering his third stroke.

The robber returned to Britain from self-imposed exile in Brazil last month.

He contacted Scotland Yard detectives by e-mail from Rio asking for a passport and offering to give himself up after 30 years on the run.

Biggs was immediately arrested on his return and after a brief court appearance was ordered to continue the 30-year sentence he was given for his part in the 1963 robbery.

Earlier today, Biggs was visited for the first time by his friend and fellow robber, Bruce Reynolds.

Reynolds, 70, who was known to be the mastermind behind the £2.6 million robbery, was also sentenced to 30 years.

Ms Rothen was expected to stay in London with her son for the next few days.

She first met Biggs while working as a stripper in Rio and became pregnant with Michael 26 years ago.

She left Biggs in 1977 and married businessman Andre Rothen seven years later.

The couple moved to Switzerland but divorced in 1990.