IT clearly did not pay to be caught sheep stealing in this county 200 years ago, as four men found to their bitter cost when they were brought before a judge at the Worcester Assizes in 1802.
Appearing separately in the dock of the Court Room at our Guildhall, John Hopley, John Thomas, Joseph Pearman and John Thorne were all sentenced to death. Each had stolen just one sheep from various farms and fields around south Worcestershire.
The Journal reported that the four, together with Robert Welland for house breaking at North Piddle, were "capitally convicted and all left for execution."
Going back even further, to 1752, we find a Journal account of the City Assizes of 250 years ago. "William Gaskin, charged on suspicion of robbing Mr Smith of St John's, was acquitted, there not being sufficient Proof against him, but, being tried on a second Indictment for stealing a frock, the property of Mr Lightbourn of St John's, he was convicted and ordered to be Transported for seven years."
Two women prisoners seem to have got off fairly lightly at the same Assizes. "Mary Coombs, for robbing Mr Prosser, and Anne Drew, for robbing Mr Shingleton, were ordered to be Whipped."
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