Pictured here are crooks jailed for thieving, burgling and robbing across South Yorkshire in 2026.
One of the lags had a maggot-infested brain abscess when she stabbed two shopworkers with a needle.
Another nicked over £5,000 of chocolate from the same Sheffield store and in one case police followed a bungling burglar from his victim’s flat to his own in the same building.
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1. Maggot brain, chocolate bandit and blood breadcrumbs
Ten thieves, burglars and robbers locked up this year | SYP
2. Danny Burke
Hard-up repairs man Burke burgled 32 student rooms, conning his way into Sheffield halls to “fix a boiler”. He made off with a Rolex watch worth £10,000, a camera and Chinese Yen worth £25 in one break-in. Between July and October 2025 he raided 32 student rooms across Sheffield and Manchester. He stole at least £7,000 in cash - mainly from foreign students, Sheffield Crown Court heard. He was jailed for three years and eight months. | SYP
3. Shinayde Strachan
Thieving heroin addict Strachan's brain was infected with “maggots” when she stabbed two B&M shopworkers with a needle during a scuffle over a bag of stolen washing detergent. The Rotherham thief, aged 37, had a brain abscess at the time of the robbery. Her barrister told Sheffield Crown Court the infestation - caused by “exposed flesh” - was a “clear example” that the life-long addict was “not taking care of herself due to her drug misuse” when she struck. Recorder Brian Whitehead jailed Strachan for five years and two months. | SYP
4. Anthony Vardy
Sheffield burglar Vardy was detained by a shocked victim who returned home and found him in his bedroom. Sheffield Crown Court heard Vardy had “packed bags” with items he had snatched from the Rutland Road house after “ransacking” rooms including those of the homeowner’s children. He was jailed for three years. | SYP