HE was a rogue granted extraordinary clemency by Home Secretary Herbert Gladstone – but within a month he was back to his old ways.

James Davey was only 26 but had served much of his adult life behind bars.

He had already accumulated ten convictions by the time he appeared at Southampton Quarter Sessions in 1910 when he received three years for the theft of a boat, anchor and oars, and five years for being a habitual criminal.

However, that was when the Home Secretary stepped in and exercising clemency quashed the heavier sentence.

Davey was released on licence the following year but a few weeks later he could not resist the temptation of breaking into a house in South Arreton on the Isle of Wight where he helped himself to two watches, a handkerchief and food.

He was to tell police that he had been hungry and while walking around the house, came across the other items which he stuffed into his pockets.

Davey admitted burglary at Hampshire Quarter Sessions.

The judge ordered him to serve the outstanding time left on his original sentence and added another month with hard labour.