Bungling Sheffield criminals who were caught after making stupid choices

By Alastair Ulke

Published 22nd Nov 2022, 12:01 BST

Updated 22nd Nov 2022, 12:02 BST

From the burglar who forgot his dirty laundry to the burglar who stared straight into a CCTV camera, these Sheffield criminals were caught for bungling the job.

Often, details of how offenders were brought to justice only come out on their day in court – and, sometimes, this reveals how they were caught for making one stupid mistake.

Below is a gallery of criminals who ended up in custody for making inexplicable choices while carrying out their offences.

They include a drug smuggler who couldn’t tell border officers what country he had just driven from to the street robber who, for no reason, bit his victim during an attack and thus left DNA police could use to track him.

These Sheffield offenders were caught for bungling their crimes - from a man who looked straight into a CCTV camera, to a burglar who left his dirty laundry at the crime scene, to a robber who inexplicably bit his victim during the attack.

1. Sheffield criminals who were caught because of bungling or unbelievable choices

These Sheffield offenders were caught for bungling their crimes - from a man who looked straight into a CCTV camera, to a burglar who left his dirty laundry at the crime scene, to a robber who inexplicably bit his victim during the attack. Photo: Alastair Ulke

Anthony Parry, aged 39, of Bankwood Road, Gleadless Valley, was jailed for seven years in September for a shocking robbery in October 2019 where he and two accomplices held an elderly newsagent worker at knifepoint. Then earlier this year, for another offence committed before he was jailed, Parry was prosecuted for a separate burglary where he was spotted breaking into a building site. The distinctive burglar told cops: "I must have a lookalike."

2. Anthony Parry - 'It must have been my lookalike'

Anthony Parry, aged 39, of Bankwood Road, Gleadless Valley, was jailed for seven years in September for a shocking robbery in October 2019 where he and two accomplices held an elderly newsagent worker at knifepoint. Then earlier this year, for another offence committed before he was jailed, Parry was prosecuted for a separate burglary where he was spotted breaking into a building site. The distinctive burglar told cops: "I must have a lookalike." Photo: SYP

'Forgetful' Mohammed Hussain, 30, of Uttley Drive, was stopped by border offices at a port in Dover. When questioned, he went back and forth on his story of whether he had just come from Amsterdam or Frankfurt. The suspicious officers then found 16 kilos worth of Class-A drugs taped inside the doors of a car. He was jailed for 11 years.

3. Mohammed Hussain - Couldn't remember if he had just come from Amsterdam or Frankfurt

'Forgetful' Mohammed Hussain, 30, of Uttley Drive, was stopped by border offices at a port in Dover. When questioned, he went back and forth on his story of whether he had just come from Amsterdam or Frankfurt. The suspicious officers then found 16 kilos worth of Class-A drugs taped inside the doors of a car. He was jailed for 11 years. Photo: Alastair Ulke

Matthew Turton, 42, of Barrie Road, Southey Green ,was caught on Abbeyfield Road, Burngreave, with £500 worth of Class-A drugs and a burner phone. In court, he was labelled 'naïve' by prosecutor Mr Neil Coxon, who told the judge: “Police spoke with the defendant and he volunteered to them he had not been doing this for long and he did not really know what he was doing.” He was spared jail.

4. Matthew Turton - 'He did not really know what he was doing'

Matthew Turton, 42, of Barrie Road, Southey Green ,was caught on Abbeyfield Road, Burngreave, with £500 worth of Class-A drugs and a burner phone. In court, he was labelled 'naïve' by prosecutor Mr Neil Coxon, who told the judge: “Police spoke with the defendant and he volunteered to them he had not been doing this for long and he did not really know what he was doing.” He was spared jail. Photo: Chris Etchells