A drug addict who promised a judge she wouldn't steal again was caught with two snatched phones down her trousers two weeks later.
Sanela Osmanovic, 36, has now been jailed for two years, after being warned she would be sent to prison if she appeared before the courts again.
Her latest court appearance came after she stole two women's iPhones in the city centre in the early hours last month, which were later recovered after being stuffed down her trousers.
A student who had travelled to Manchester for a concert was waiting to board a bus home at Chorlton Street bus station with a friend.
She noticed a man and a woman sit near her for about 10 minutes, and became suspicious.
Soon after she realised her phone was missing, and she reported the incident to the police.
Shortly after, another woman had her phone stolen.
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The victim, who was said to have been out drinking, was standing outside a takeaway on Bloom Street and didn't realise her phone has been stolen.
After being alerted to the thefts, CCTV operatives were able to follow Osmanovic's movements and she was approached by police officers near the Palace theatre.
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Both stolen phones were found hidden inside her trousers, prosecutor Duncan Wilcock said.
Osmanovic, who has 37 previous convictions, had appeared at Manchester Crown Court in front of the same judge just two weeks earlier for more theft offences.
In May 2017, she had stolen a rucksack from a woman while she was trying on shoes at the Sketchers store on Market Street in the city centre.
In January she stole a tray of jewellery, including earrings worth £3,000, from a jewellers in Rusholme.
Two other men blocked the view of the owners while she stole the items.
In February, Judge Hilary Manley said she was just persuaded to pass a suspended sentence, after being told that Osmanovic wanted to turn her life around.
Osmanovic has had a long term drug addiction for 20 years, the court heard.
But committing the most recent offences of stealing the two mobile phones meant she breached that suspended sentence passed just two weeks earlier.
Sentencing, the judge told Osmanovic: "While I have sympathy with the fact that you have a long standing drug addiction, I was assured that you would do anything to change your ways and grab any opportunity given to you with both hands.
"That's how I was persuaded, just, to suspend the sentence of imprisonment.
"These sort of offences are mean and low, and incredibly selfish.
"Taking someone's iPhone causes them a great deal of stress. Thanks to the efforts of the police the phones were recovered.
"I made it totally clear to you what would be the result of you not taking this option.
"I have no option but to impose an immediate sentence of imprisonment. I have to protect the public.
"Rehabilitation can only take place when you are prepared to make the efforts required."
Osmanovic, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and admitted breaching a suspended sentence.
