The great escapes of ‘Biggsy’

Published: August 25, 2011
by TOM FOOT

HE takes his name from the legendary fugitive, the “Great Train Robber” Ronnie Biggs.

And now “Biggsy” – a lovable rogue of a mutt from Lismore Circus, Gospel Oak – is living up to his namesake and refusing to be kept behind bars.

Despite Camden Council spending thousands of pounds on a special dog pen for pets on the estate, the three-year-old terrier has shown he is more than adept at wriggling free each day.

The problem led to a tenants meeting being called on the estate earlier this month and council officials have been left stumped over what to do next.

Biggsy’s owner Maurice Price, who lives in Lismore Circus, said: “Biggsy’s as soft as anything, but gets very exci­ted when he sees the kids or another dog. Off he goes, under the bars.

“The dog warden told me next time it’s going to be an £80 fine. The council lay down all these laws but how am I supposed to obey them?”

The mystery of Biggsy’s amazing ability to escape from almost anywhere has got the estate talking. He is able to squeeze beneath the railings designed to keep canines in. Theories doing the rounds are that Biggsy may have an unusually flexible spine and some have even cast him as a canine version of Flat Stanley, the children’s book character who could enter locked rooms by sliding under the door.

After experts from the Town Hall visited Biggsy and Mr Price a fortnight ago, it was suggested the dog was kept on a lead at all times.

“That’s ridiculous in a dog pen,” said Mr Price. “If they gave me some chicken wire I’d sort it out myself.”

Biggsy was preoccupied with “girlfriend” Roxy, an alsatian collie cross he meets every day, when the New Journal visited yesterday (Wed­nesday) but couldn’t resist performing his limbo trick for our photographer.

A council spokeswoman said: “We have inspected the site and now have plans to install an edging strip along the bottom of the fence to stop the problem.

“This should be complete in September.”

Ronnie Biggs lived as a fugitive for 36 years following the 1963 robbery, before serving eight years in prison.

He was released in 2009 on compassionate grounds.