A campaign to release one of the country’s most infamous prisoners has received a boost, thanks to a Clacton publisher.

Chris Cowlin, of Apex Publishing, visited Ronnie Biggs at HMP Norwich.

The former Clacton County High School student is set to release a book about The Great Train Robbery, Biggs’ life on the run and his time in prison.

Mr Cowlin, along with co-author Mike Gray, who are campaigning for Biggs’ release, spent two hours with the 79-year-old on Tuesday.

He revealed Biggs is confined to a wheelchair, fed through a tube and his health has deteriorated so badly he gets out of breath trying to communicate.

Mr Cowlin, 27, is hopeful Biggs could be released in July – a third of the way through his sentence.

“The idea behind the book is to raise the profile of the cause,” he said.

“I know what he has done and don’t condone any crime but when you see someone in that state..."

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