Real-life Artful Dodger gang of Victorian child criminals are seen in newly-unearthed police mugshots
Chilling evidence of Victorian child offenders — some of whom were as young as ten when they were jailed — have resurfaced.
The Evidence, which originate from Wandsworth Prison in London, were recorded in December 1872 to January 1873 .
Most of these child criminals were arrested or brutally punished for stealing seemingly petty items that would barely warrant a police caution today.
Thomas Casey, 13, was whipped and given four days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a rabbit in January, 1873
James Leadbetter, 11, was whipped and given four days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing celery in January, 1873
Thomas Savage, 11, was given four days hard labour and 10 strokes of a birch cane [sic] at Wandsworth Prison for stealing some iron, in December 1872
Eli Grangerm 14, was whipped and given six months hard labour for attempting to commit identity fraud in January 1873.
In the United Kingdom, birching was a judicial penalty in both juvenile and adult cases until 1948.
It was not until the 1908 Children’s Act that changes were made to the way child offenders were punished. Juvenile courts were introduced and children could no longer be placed in adult prisons or executed for capital crimes — however, minors could still be whipped.
James W Hempson, 13, was given 10 strokes of a birch cane and four days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a box of figs in January, 1873
Charles Evans, 14, was whipped and given three days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a pile of books in January, 1873
George Davis, 14, was whipped and given three days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a pile of books in January, 1873