Family history: tracking down Victorian prisoners?

[Wigeon]

Not actually my family, but I'm doing some research on the history of the house we've recently moved into. One of the residents of our house in 1911, Ernest George Reed, is listed as a prisoner in Wandsworth Prison in the 1901 census. His occupation is given as "Coal merchants clerk" while he was a prisoner.

I've been scouring the prison records on Ancestry and FindMyPast (using them for free in the local library!), but I just can't find a record for Ernest - it would be really interesting to find out what crime he committed and how long he was in prison for. I know he was born in 1876 in Woodville, Leicestershire.

Can any amateur genealogists help please?

Bump

I don’t know anything about prison records, sorry, but have you tried searching the British Newspaper Archives for any reports on his trial?

Ah, I hadn't heard of that archive! Just had a quick look - looks amazing! I wonder if there's free access in the local library? It seems to be £12.95 a month otherwise.

It would definitely be worth contacting them to find out! You can search for free, though, to see whether anything comes up - you only need the subscription to access the full article.

Found lots of hits for Ernest Reed but need to look through carefully to see if any are my man....

My library has British Newspaper Archive and it's such a good resource. I've had a quick look myself for your man. But couldn't find anything either. Shame, as there's lots of catalogues on ancestry that should include him. But obviously their never comprehensive lists.

Just wanted to add, I live in Woodville and it's now in Derbyshire.

Have you tried this?
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/d0cbdc1e-f297-4488-9acf-1da291f28f76