Jamie Sharp, pictured, has been jailed for four years after pleading guilty of burglary
A criminal famed for his stupidity is back in jail after he was recognised from his appearance on the TV show Britain’s Dumbest Criminals.
Jamie Sharp was caught on CCTV breaking into a mother-of-four’s home in a town near Gloucester.
Distraught victim Portia Shipway shared the footage online in the hope locals would be able to name the perpetrator.
Unbeknown to her, two years ago Sharp, 28, was jailed after he stole a Porsche sports car and filmed himself boasting at the wheel – only to crash it into a wall and end up trapped in the vehicle.
The dopey crook was featured on the TV show, and a number of people – including his mother – got in touch with Ms Shipway to point out who he was.
Yesterday he was back before Gloucester crown court to admit burgling the home of mum of four Portia Shipway in Hardwicke, near Gloucester, and taking her car.
Ms Shipway’s neighbour had a CCTV camera – and when it was checked there were good quality images of him on it, the court was told.
The canny mum posted the pictures onto Facebook and received numerous messages identifying Sharp – mostly because people had seen him on a TV show called following publicity of his Porsche crash in 2015.
Sharp, of Linden road, Gloucester, who has already been recalled to prison for breach of his parole, was jailed for a total of four years four months today after he pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of Ms Shipway’s Vauxhall Zafira and driving while banned.
In December 2015 police released the video Sharp filmed of himself driving a Porsche Boxster he had just stolen.
Moments after boasting ‘I’m in Porsche Boxster – now hear the revs’ Sharp crashed into a wall and had pulled unconscious from the wrecked vehicle by emergency services.
He was jailed for four years after he admitted offences including burglary of the Porsche owner’s home and aggravated vehicle taking.
In December 2015 police released the video Sharp filmed of himself driving a Porsche Boxster he had just stolen
In December 2015 police released the video Sharp filmed of himself driving a Porsche Boxster he had just stolen. He crashed moments after filming himself inside the car
Speaking after today’s hearing, Ms Shipway said: ‘I am pleased and relieved that he has gone back to jail for a long sentence.
‘He caused me loads of hassle and inconvenience by what he did.
‘My dog had barked during the night, probably when he broke in, but it did not make enough noise for me to think I was being burgled.
‘Then when I came downstairs in the morning and saw the front door I realised something had happened.
‘I was in a panic because my first thought was that one of my kids had sleepwalked out.
‘Luckily my neighbour’s CCTV camera caught this man.
‘When we moved into the house last year my neighbour asked if I would like him to point the camera at my house too and I’m glad I agreed.
‘Several people got back to me to say they recognised the images on my Facebook – they said he was the man they had seen on Britain’s Dumbest Criminals after the Porsche case.
‘Apparently, even his own mum contacted the police to say it was him.
‘It took a while to get over this, I didn’t even want to live in the house for a while after it happened.
‘I think the longer the sentence he got today the better because from what I can gather he is never going to change.’
Prosecutor Richard Posner said Ms Shipway, a single mum who had only recently moved into her house, was in bed when Sharp broke in.
Her children were asleep too at the time and when she woke at 7am, she found the front door ajar and her car missing.
Sharp had taken the family’s belongings which were in the car too, which included her iPad and handbag.
Her disabled older son’s medication was also missing.
The dopey crook was featured on the TV show Britain’s Dumbest Burglars, and a number of people – including his mother – got in touch with Ms Shipway to point out who he was after seeing this CCTV footage online
Mr Posner told the court: ‘She was obviously frustrated at the defendant’s conduct and circulated CCTV images of him on social media to see if anyone could identify the defendant moving in and out of her property.
‘He was quickly identified. The car was found parked in Stroud.
‘The police also looked at the CCTV from another house nearby in the same road and the defendant was in due course arrested at the end of November.’
In a victim impact statement Ms Shipway said the burglary had not only hit her and her family financially but also mentally and emotionally.
‘He stole from me and from my children, two of whom are disabled,’ she stated.
‘This has caused worry and distress to the whole family. He has violated my home.
‘My eldest child has autism and has been scared and started wetting the bed and having nightmares.’
Jason Coulter, defending, said Sharp has ‘very serious drink problems’.
‘There are clearly underlying and deep seated reasons for that which he is almost physically unable to bring himself to speak about.’
Jailing Sharp, Recorder Frank Abbott said: ‘This is a very unpleasant offence which has had deep consequences.’
He said he had taken an account a letter written by Sharp to Ms Shipway.
‘Hopefully when you come out you will be able to live up to your letter,’ said the Recorder.
‘I hope your victim will accept that you are not just saying you are sorry but that you are genuinely sorry.’
In May 2013 Gloucester crown court heard how, after taking an Audi A4 from a house he burgled in Stonechat Avenue, Gloucester, Sharp was chased by four police cars and a helicopter through Oxford city centre.
He was arrested after a police stinger punctured a tyre and he crashed into a bollard.