These are the haunting mugshots of Victorian criminals – who could face months of hard labour for stealing bread.
The recently unearthed photographs reveal the brutal punishments that were handed to Victorians for petty offences – which would barely warrant a police caution in Britain today.
The images, which come from Oxford Castle Prison were taken between March 1868 to May 1870 when the concept of photography was still relatively new.
In the 19th century, Oxford Gaol was a prison reserved for the some of the poorest members of society driven into crimes such as theft and fraud largely through desperation.
The fascinating collection shows weary 62-year-old William Lee who was sentenced to 21 days hard labour for stealing bread – and William Maisey, 34, who received 28 days hard labour for stealing a pack of oats.
Another harrowing mugshot shows a baby-faced 19-year-old James Morley who was given six months imprisonment for stealing a chicken in January that same year.
![James Howard, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing ducks, however he was later acquitted. The image was taken on February 25, 1870](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432060-7722289-image-m-7_1574672675579.jpg)
Left: James Morley, 19, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a chicken. He was given a six months imprisonment on January 27, 1870. Right: James Howard, was jailed for stealing ducks, however he was later acquitted. The image was taken on February 25, 1870
![Josiah Pulley, 43, and partner in crime Sarah Robinson, 32, (pictured) were jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a basket with 21 shillings in](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432054-7722289-image-m-13_1574672789205.jpg)
![Mary Jones, 29, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for false pretences. She was given a two months imprisonment on May 6, 1870](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432056-7722289-image-a-14_1574672799706.jpg)
Left: Josiah Pulley, 43, and partner in crime Sarah Robinson, 32, (pictured) were jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a basket with 21 shillings in. Right: Mary Jones, 29, was jailed for false pretences. She was given a two months imprisonment on May 6, 1870
![William Houlton, 54, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a pack of wheat worth 42 shillings. He was given 42 days imprisonment in 1870](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432050-7722289-image-a-22_1574673064941.jpg)
![James Hardwick, 26, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for assault and robbery. He was given six months imprisonment in 1869](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432052-7722289-image-m-21_1574673061556.jpg)
Left: William Houlton, 54, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a pack of wheat worth 42 shillings. He was given 42 days imprisonment in 1870. Right: James Hardwick, 26, was jailed for assault and robbery. He was given six months imprisonment in 1869
![William Maisey, 34, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a pack of oats. He was given 28 days hard labour in 1870](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432042-7722289-image-a-30_1574673237865.jpg)
![William Lee, 62, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing bread. He was given 21 days hard labour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432046-7722289-image-m-29_1574673234086.jpg)
Left: William Maisey, 34, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a pack of oats. He was given 28 days hard labour in 1870. Right: William Lee, 62, was jailed for stealing bread. He was given 21 days hard labour
![Elizabeth Hinton, 43, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for unlawful wounding. She was given seven days hard labour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432024-7722289-image-m-35_1574673381461.jpg)
![John Viggers, 56, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing knives. He was given one month hard labour in 1870](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432026-7722289-image-a-36_1574673388991.jpg)
Left: Elizabeth Hinton, 43, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for unlawful wounding. She was given seven days hard labour. Right: John Viggers, 56, was jailed for stealing knives. He was given one month hard labour in 1870
![Thomas Howell, 43, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing chickens. He was given 21 days imprisonment](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432020-7722289-image-a-44_1574673465186.jpg)
![Stephen Oliver, 36, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing one pound sterling. He was given four months hard labour in 1870](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432022-7722289-image-m-43_1574673460839.jpg)
Left: Thomas Howell, 43, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing chickens. He was given 21 days imprisonment. Right: Stephen Oliver, 36, was jailed for stealing one pound sterling. He was given four months hard labour in 1870
![Thomas Williams, 26, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for ransacking a shop. He was given six months hard labour in 1869](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432034-7722289-image-a-55_1574673580998.jpg)
![William Knott, 20, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a chicken](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432036-7722289-image-m-54_1574673578087.jpg)
Left: Thomas Williams, 26, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for ransacking a shop. He was given six months hard labour in 1869. Right: William Knott, 20, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a chicken
![John Beckley, 37, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for embezzling 18 pound sterling. He was given 12 months hard labour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432038-7722289-image-m-60_1574673694095.jpg)
![Louisa Petty, who was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison and given hard labour for an unknown charge in 1868](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432040-7722289-image-a-61_1574673705371.jpg)
Left: John Beckley, 37, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for embezzling 18 pound sterling. He was given 12 months hard labour. Right: Louisa Petty, who was jailed and given hard labour for an unknown charge in 1868
![Frederick Flower, 25, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for a fraud of 25 shillings. He was given eight months imprisonment in 1869](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432030-7722289-image-a-69_1574673798515.jpg)
![William Cooper, 53, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for false pretences](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432032-7722289-image-m-68_1574673794011.jpg)
Left: Frederick Flower, 25, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for a fraud of 25 shillings. He was given eight months imprisonment in 1869. Right: William Cooper, 53, was jailed for false pretences
![William Jones, 22, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing trousers. He was given one month imprisonment](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432028-7722289-image-a-77_1574673868726.jpg)
![Benjamin Wain, 25, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing fowl. He was given six months imprisonment in 1870](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432048-7722289-image-m-76_1574673863371.jpg)
Left: William Jones, 22, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing trousers. He was given one month imprisonment. Right: Benjamin Wain, 25, was jailed for stealing fowl. He was given six months imprisonment in 1870
![George Pratley, 25, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a coat. He was given three months hard labour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432018-7722289-image-m-82_1574673949154.jpg)
![William Adams, 20, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a waistcoat, a collar and a handkerchief. He was given 21 days hard labour in 1870](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432016-7722289-image-a-83_1574673956355.jpg)
Left: George Pratley, 25, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing a coat. He was given three months hard labour. Right: William Adams, 20, was jailed for stealing a waistcoat, a collar and a handkerchief. He was given 21 days hard labour in 1870
![Edward Coles, 29, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for three pairs of socks. He was imprisoned for two months](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432012-7722289-image-m-88_1574674094564.jpg)
![Charles Hearn, 61, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for stealing trousers and four shillings. He was given 28 days hard labour in 1870](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/09/21432014-7722289-image-a-89_1574674099457.jpg)
Left: Edward Coles, 29, was jailed at Oxford Castle Prison for three pairs of socks. He was imprisoned for two months. Right: Charles Hearn, 61, was jailed for stealing trousers and four shillings. He was given 28 days hard labour