Bath-time burglars and more - 10 crazy Sheffield court cases

Reporter

Published 29th Aug 2026, 05:56 BST

A caravan thief crashed a tourer into a ditch during a “high-speed” police pursuit and an inept burglar left a bread-crumb trail for his neighbour to follow

Below are some of the wackiest cases dealt with by Sheffield judges this year - including a hygiene-conscious bath-taking burglar, bungling getaway drivers and choccy-mad shop thieves.

In one case a father-and-son burglary team were jailed together on the junior member’s 20th birthday while a trio of dopey dealers sold drugs to undercover cops for eight months.

A caravan thief crashed a tourer into a ditch during a “high-speed” police pursuit and an inept burglar left a bread-crumb trail for his neighbour to follow after treading in freshly-laid cement.

Jilted Barnsley husband Murphy tried to bypass a court order not to contact his ex by writing her letters but addressing them to her dogs.
The 53-year-old, who had a “vast” 266 previous offences on his record, was on prison remand at the time, having denied spending £149 on a hoover using his estranged wife’s bank card.
Murphy wrote four letters to his wife which were addressed to the “dogs they owned” between May and August 2025.
Recorder Ian Mullarkey told Murphy he had not addressed the letter to the dogs so “they could read them” but to “circumvent” restrictions that had been placed on him in respect of contacting his ex.
He was jailed for 24 months and handed a five-year restraining order.

1. Shane Murphy

Jilted Barnsley husband Murphy tried to bypass a court order not to contact his ex by writing her letters but addressing them to her dogs. The 53-year-old, who had a “vast” 266 previous offences on his record, was on prison remand at the time, having denied spending £149 on a hoover using his estranged wife’s bank card. Murphy wrote four letters to his wife which were addressed to the “dogs they owned” between May and August 2025. Recorder Ian Mullarkey told Murphy he had not addressed the letter to the dogs so “they could read them” but to “circumvent” restrictions that had been placed on him in respect of contacting his ex. He was jailed for 24 months and handed a five-year restraining order. | South Yorkshire Police

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 37-year-old, of Eastwood, Rotherham, 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.
She was jailed for over five years.

2. 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 37-year-old, of Eastwood, Rotherham, 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. She was jailed for over five years. | SYP

Sheffield pilferer Sherie Clarke - described as “a one-woman crime spree” - snatched chocolate worth over £5,000 from the same city store during 19 separate raids over a period of six months.
On January 15 this year she ran off with £564.75 of the cacao-derived goodies - however the following month on February 2 she finally branched out into cheese - stealing a combined £281.55 worth of chocs and dairy.
She was jailed for five years.

3. Sherie Clarke

Sheffield pilferer Sherie Clarke - described as “a one-woman crime spree” - snatched chocolate worth over £5,000 from the same city store during 19 separate raids over a period of six months. On January 15 this year she ran off with £564.75 of the cacao-derived goodies - however the following month on February 2 she finally branched out into cheese - stealing a combined £281.55 worth of chocs and dairy. She was jailed for five years. | SYP

Hygienic Sheffield burglar Cockram, aged 37, was caught getting out of the bath by police in a house he had broken into
He had gained entry by smashing a window with a crowbar however when police arrived to investigate he was just “stepping out” of the tub in the property on Burgoyne Road, Hillfoot.
Judge Charles Thomas said the case was “extremely unusual” but accepted Cockram had entered not to “commit acquisitive crime” but to “have a bath”.
The judge, noting Cockram had already served seven months on remand, suspended a 12-month jail term for 18 months.

4. Jono Cockram

Hygienic Sheffield burglar Cockram, aged 37, was caught getting out of the bath by police in a house he had broken into He had gained entry by smashing a window with a crowbar however when police arrived to investigate he was just “stepping out” of the tub in the property on Burgoyne Road, Hillfoot. Judge Charles Thomas said the case was “extremely unusual” but accepted Cockram had entered not to “commit acquisitive crime” but to “have a bath”. The judge, noting Cockram had already served seven months on remand, suspended a 12-month jail term for 18 months. | Iconic