Sheffield burglar jailed for over four years after falling asleep in stolen car
He will spend up to four years three months behind bars
Last updated 22nd Jan 2026
A Sheffield man who was arrested after being found asleep in a car he had stolen has been jailed for four years and three months.
Wayne Smith, 46, of Raisen Hall Road, was taken into custody on the morning of September 24 2025 after officers were called to a report of a man asleep in a red Skoda Fabia with the engine running.
The car had been reported stolen during a burglary in the Crookes area on the night of September 19.
Evidence found at the scene, including a footwear mark left on a windowsill, was later matched to Smith’s shoes at the time of his arrest.
Smith was also linked to an attempted burglary on September 22 near Broomhall. CCTV footage showed him in the garden of a property before leaving the area in the same red Skoda Fabia.
When officers searched the vehicle after his arrest, a large knife was recovered, further adding to the charges against him.
Smith appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on October 24 last year, where he pleaded guilty to burglary dwelling and theft, theft of a motor vehicle, attempted burglary, possessing a knife in a public place, and going equipped for burglary.
He was sentenced last week four years and three months in prison.
Detective Sergeant Tom Jordan said: “Wayne Smith posed an obvious risk to the community of Sheffield by choosing to carry a knife on top of his brazen offending and I'm pleased he will now be spending a significant amount of time behind bars.
“Burglary has a long-lasting impact on victims, and we work hard every single day to identify offenders, link incidents together, and bring those responsible to justice.
“We take every single report extremely seriously and I hope this recent sentence shows we won’t stop until prolific offenders such as Smith have no choice but to plead guilty to their crimes.”