Chilling mugshots of Victorian child offenders – some of whom were as young as ten when they were jailed – have resurfaced.
The black and white photographs, which originate from Wandsworth Prison in London, were taken in December 1872 to January 1873 when the concept of photography was still relatively new.
Most of these child criminals were arrested or brutally punished for stealing seemingly petty items that would barely warrant a police caution today.
![William Jowers, 12, was given one month hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing two live tame rabbits in December 1872](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E8400000578-0-William_Jowers_12_was_given_one_month_hard_labour_at_Wandsworth_-m-31_1534230828084.jpg)
George Davey, 10, (left) and William Jowers, 12 , (right) were both given one month hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing two live tame rabbits in December 1872
![Thomas Casey, 13, was whipped and given four days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a rabbit in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E9900000578-0-image-a-72_1534231570418.jpg)
Thomas Casey, 13, was whipped and given four days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a rabbit in January, 1873
![Tammy Puplett, 14, was given three months hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing 12 shilling and 9 pense, half a bottle of Gin and three shirt studs in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9EC800000578-0-Tammy_Puplett_14_was_given_three_months_hard_labour_at_Wandswort-m-94_1534232395634.jpg)
Tammy Puplett, 14, was given three months hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing 12 shilling and 9 pense, half a bottle of Gin and three shirt studs in January, 1873
![James Leadbetter, 11, was whipped and given four days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing celery in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E7400000578-0-James_Leadbetter_11_was_whipped_and_given_four_days_hard_labour_-m-95_1534232408703.jpg)
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 at Wandsworth Prison for stealing some iron, in December 1872](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9EBC00000578-0-image-a-15_1534230542521.jpg)
Thomas Savage, 11, was given four days hard labour and 10 strokes of a birch cane at Wandsworth Prison for stealing some iron, in December 1872
![Charles Summerley, 13, was given 10 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing metal pipes worth five shillings, in December 1872](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E5F00000578-0-image-a-49_1534231137998.jpg)
Charles Summerley, 13, was given 10 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing metal pipes worth five shillings, in December 1872
The striking images show George Davey and William Jowers – aged ten and twelve respectively – for stealing two live tame rabbits.
Also pictured is baby-faced James Leadbetter, eleven, who was whipped and given four days hard labour for stealing celery.
Other poignant shots show fourteen-year-old Thomas Goodstone who was given fourteen days hard labour for stealing 7lbs of pork over the Christmas period.
Meanwhile Thomas Savage, eleven, who was given four days hard labour and ten strokes of a birch cane for stealing some iron.
In the United Kingdom, birching was a judicial penalty in both juvenile and adult cases until 1948.
The 145-year-old collection also includes a mugshot of fifteen-year-old Joseph Oxford who was nicked for stealing a blanket on a cold January day – and fourteen-year-old Tammy Puplett who was put behind bars for ten days for stealing a bottle of Gin amongst other items.
In the 1800s, children were often imprisoned for what now would be considered minor offences and no distinction was made between criminals of any age.
![John Morelle, 12, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a drinking glass January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9F4C00000578-0-John_Morelle_12_was_given_21_days_hard_labour_at_Wandsworth_Pris-m-43_1534231030237.jpg)
![John Ryan, 13, was given 10 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing metal pipes worth 5 shillings, in December 1872.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9EFC00000578-0-John_Ryan_13_was_given_10_days_hard_labour_at_Wandsworth_Prison_-a-44_1534231040890.jpg)
John Morelle, 12, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a drinking glass January, 1873
![William Simmer, 14, was given ten day hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing two bottles of lemonade in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9F2400000578-0-image-a-23_1534230733589.jpg)
William Simmer, 14, was given ten day hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing two bottles of lemonade in January, 1873
![Thomas Goodstone, 14, was given 14 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing seven lbs of pork over the Christmas period in 1872](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9EA700000578-0-image-a-75_1534231871170.jpg)
Thomas Goodstone, 14, was given 14 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing seven lbs of pork over the Christmas period in 1872
![Samuel Snooks, 15, was given 10 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing metal pipes worth 5 shillings in December 1872](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9EDC00000578-0-image-m-83_1534231956804.jpg)
![Samuel Stevenson, 14, was given six weeks hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing paper in November 1872.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9EE800000578-0-image-a-84_1534231965289.jpg)
Samuel Snooks, 15, (left) was given 10 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing metal pipes worth five shillings in December 1872 and Samuel Stevenson, 14, (right) was given six weeks hard labour at the same institution for stealing paper in November 1872
Accordingly, young children were sent to an adult prison like Oxford Castle Prison for example. There are even records of a child aged twelve being hanged for petty theft and murder in 1829.
The Victorians were very worried about crime and following the development of the camera, police realised they could use the new technology to their advantage and took images of repeat offenders.
Officers released photos to warn the public when the criminal was to be released from prison. As the use of cameras became more common taking mugshots became the norm until it was made compulsory for everyone to be photographed after they were arrested.
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.
![Joseph Charmon, 12, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a tame fowl, in December 1872](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9F0B00000578-0-image-a-87_1534232019688.jpg)
Joseph Charmon, 12, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a tame fowl, in December 1872
![John Garmin, 15, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a blanket, January 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9F1800000578-0-image-m-92_1534232045628.jpg)
![Eli Granger, 14, was whipped and given six months hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for attempting to commit identity fraud, January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9F4100000578-0-image-a-93_1534232059922.jpg)
John Garmin, 15, (right) was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a blanket, January 1873. Eli Granger (left) 14, was whipped and given six months hard labour for attempting to commit identity fraud in the same month
![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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9EF100000578-0-image-a-77_1534231903862.jpg)
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
![John Webb, 13, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing four loaves of bread and a pot of jam, in December 1872](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9DC700000578-0-John_Webb_13_was_given_21_days_hard_labour_at_Wandsworth_Prison_-a-48_1534231101711.jpg)
![Samuel Stilley, 14, was given one months hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing two shillings and six pence in December 1872](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9DD200000578-0-Samuel_Stilley_14_was_given_one_months_hard_labour_at_Wandsworth-m-47_1534231089712.jpg)
John Webb, 13, (left) was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing four loaves of bread and a pot of jam, in December 1872. Samuel Stilley, 14, (right) was given one month hard labour for stealing two shillings and six pence in the same month
![Charles Evans, 14, was whipped and given three days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a pile of books in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9DDF00000578-0-image-a-36_1534230917791.jpg)
Charles Evans, 14, was whipped and given three days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a pile of books in January, 1873
![George Whelan, 12, was given one months hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing one lb of beef, December 1872](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9DEB00000578-0-image-a-37_1534230935881.jpg)
George Whelan, 12, was given one months hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing one lb of beef, December 1872
![Joseph Oxford, 15, was given 14 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a blanket in January 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9DF000000578-0-image-a-40_1534230980678.jpg)
Joseph Oxford, 15, was given 14 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a blanket 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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E0500000578-0-image-a-54_1534231273915.jpg)
George Davis, 14, was whipped and given three days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a pile of books in January, 1873
![Thomas Morris, 14, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for one lbs of coal in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9DFB00000578-0-image-m-53_1534231242897.jpg)
Thomas Morris, 14, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for one lbs of coal in January, 1873
![John Connoer, 15, was given one month hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E1700000578-0-image-a-57_1534231347566.jpg)
John Connoer, 15, was given one month hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing in January, 1873
![Samuel Warner, 14, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing three cups in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E2C00000578-0-image-m-60_1534231377151.jpg)
Samuel Warner, 14, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing three cups in January, 1873
![Thomas Thompson, 14, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing one shilling in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E4400000578-0-image-a-61_1534231410409.jpg)
Thomas Thompson, 14, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing one shilling in January, 1873
![James Sherwood, 14, was given ten days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a whip in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E5300000578-0-image-m-67_1534231501710.jpg)
![Thomas White, 13, was given one months hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing 10 shillings in January, 1873](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/14/08/4F0F9E3B00000578-0-image-a-68_1534231513356.jpg)
James Sherwood, 14, (left) was given ten days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a whip in January, 1873. In the same month, Thomas White, 13, (right) was given one month hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing 10 shillings