IN THE criminal world, there were few to equal James Ferguson.

In the 48-year period between 1899 and 1947, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

His release from Oxford Prison in 1947, at the age of 90, turned him into a celebrity.

An Oxford Mail reporter was waiting to greet the man described as the “doyen of housebreakers” as he tasted freedom.

The paper reported: “The gates of Oxford Prison opened shortly after 10am today and a little, old, bearded man, his legs slightly bowed as though he would be more comfortable astride a horse, walked out – a free man at last, after spending the greater part of the century behind bars.”

Ferguson had appeared at Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions a few weeks earlier charged with housebreaking and burglary at Henley.

He had been bound over to keep the peace for two years.

The Mail report continued: “James, a sprightly old fellow with a luxurious beard and only just beginning to go bald on top, and so small that he could only peep over the rails of the dock, was said by his counsel never to have been put on probation.

“The chairman, Mr JR Wood, gave him his chance, but because James was a convict on licence, he had to serve the 120 days from his last conviction.

“The Home Secretary, Charter Ede, however, exercised his powers of leniency and James is once more on licence so that he can fulfil the conditions of his binding over – that he lives in a Church Army hostel for aged men at Brighton.”

Ferguson spoke at length to the reporter about horse racing, a lifelong passion.

He had apparently been a steeplechase jockey and had come third in the Grand National one year.

He said his life started to go downhill in 1892 while he was training horses near Newmarket.

He said: “My employer died, my wife died and I was left with four children to look after. I started going about with the wrong sort of people.”

But he pledged: “I don’t think I shall go back to prison now – I want to settle down.”

As he got into the car which was taking him to Brighton, he revealed that he hoped to write a book about his life.

The Oxford Mail reporter commented: “It should make interesting reading.”