A prostitute who stole from drivers after getting into their cars has been jailed by a judge for almost two years.

Katherine McConnell, 32, who has been addicted to drugs since she started working on the streets at 13, pleaded guilty to two thefts and one of failing to surrender to Court.

In March last year, McConnell got into a car while the driver was waiting at a red light in Sunbridge Road.

Prosecutor Ewan McLachlan told Bradford Crown Court that she knocked on the passenger side window at about 1.45am and then jumped in and asked for a lift.

The driver asked her to get out of the car and refused her offer of sexual favours, but eventually agreed to take her to a garage.

It was only after he got home that he realised his wallet containing £200 had been stolen. McConnell, of Purlwell Lane, Batley, was questioned about that theft, but claimed she had been at home at the time.

Mr McLachlan said that while she was on bail, McConnell was involved in a similar incident in August. On this occasion she approached a grandfather as he left a pub in the Thornton Road area at about 7.45pm and asked him for a lift.

The man refused, but McConnell jumped into the car and he decided to take her because it would be less hassle and he was in a rush.

It was after she got out of the car that he noticed his mobile phone was missing and despite making a search of the area, he failed to find her. When he reported the matter to the police, the man also discovered that his wallet had also been taken.

Judge Roger Scott heard that McConnell had been given a conditional discharge last July for an offence of assault which arose out of another incident involving a motorist.

During police interviews, she denied being involved in the latest matters, but when her case was listed for a trial at the magistrates court she pleaded guilty to the thefts in December. Judge Scott read a letter from McConnell in which she expressed the hope of becoming a drugs counsellor when she had overcome her own addiction.

Her barrister Robin Mairs said she had worked hard in New Hall women's prison and hoped to move away from her associates following her release.

But Judge Scott said the offences were so serious that only custody could be justified and added: "You appear from your record of offences to treat the court system with total disdain. In other words you couldn't care a jot. You are becoming a professional pick-pocket with your own special modus operandi allied to your profession as a prostitute.

"If you come out of custody and commit this type of offence again and you meet me, you will not receive a lenient sentence."

Judge Scott sentenced McConnell to 22 months in prison for the two offences of theft from the person and ordered her to serve a further 14 days for failing to surrender to bail and an extra 28 days for breaching the previous conditional discharge.