Newly uncovered mugshots from the Victorian era show the faces of soldiers, sailors and workers who were jailed after turning to crime in order to survive.
The mugshots were revealed in Doctor Helen Rutherford’s book, Newcastle Prison: A History 1828 – 1925, examining crime after the expansion of policing in the city and along the River Tyne.
They lay bare the harsh reality of life during the Victorian era, when many employed men chose to engage in petty crime to earn extra funds.
One of the convicts included in the book is John Thomas, who was a 20-year-old soldier when he was sentenced to hard labour for stealing a pair of slippers.
Thomas was pictured wearing his military uniform when he was convicted on January 23, 1873.
Another soldier who was caught supplementing his military salary was Scottish-born John Park, 19.
He was convicted of stealing a violin, and despite it being his first offence, ordered to do one month’s hard labour.
While Thomas Haigh, 17, another serviceman-turned-criminal, was found guilty of stealing a pocket watch.
John Thomas was a 20-year-old soldier when he was sentenced to six months’ hard labour for stealing a pair of slippers
Soldier John Park was convicted of stealing a violin aged 19 and, despite it being his first offence, ordered to complete one month’s hard labour
Thomas Haigh, a sailor from Yorkshire, was found guilty of stealing a pocket watch aged 17
William Harrison, 51, was a porter when he was jailed for 12 months in 1872 for ‘obtaining oats by false pretence’
Married blacksmith William Bell, 32, was caught stealing beef and sentenced to a month in Newcastle City Gaol
William Brankston, 43, a labourer, was also jailed in 1872 for stealing four rabbits
Office clerk John Grieveson, 21, was imprisoned for four months for stealing pigeons in Newcastle
David Barron, 19, was a cabinet maker but found himself serving six months for stealing champagne
Meanwhile in 1873, grocer Ezekiel Yates, 35, was convicted of stealing tobacco and was jailed for six months
Haigh, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to one month’s hard labour for his crime.
Other offenders were locked up for stealing food, revealing their daily struggle to provide for themselves and their families.
William Harrison, 51, was a porter when he was jailed for 12 months in 1872 for ‘obtaining oats by false pretence.’
Married blacksmith William Bell, 32, was caught stealing beef and sentenced to a month in Newcastle City Gaol.
While William Brankston, 43, a labourer, was also jailed in 1872 for stealing four rabbits.
In yet another strange crime, office clerk John Grieveson, 21, was imprisoned for four months for stealing pigeons in Newcastle.
While many stole whatever food or animals they could get their hands on, some had a taste for the finer things in life.
David Barron, 19, was a cabinet maker but found himself serving six months with William Hill, 28, for stealing champagne.
Meanwhile in 1873, grocer Ezekiel Yates, 35, was convicted of stealing tobacco and jailed for six months.
