A desperate grandmother stole £56-worth of Mr Men books from a shop at Manchester Piccadilly rail station.
Tracey Shaw, 49, of Miles Platting, pleaded guilty to stealing the books from the WHSmith store on September 15 last year.
Eileen Rogers, prosecuting at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court, said that Shaw was seen by staff putting the books inside the waist band of her trousers, which was also seen on CCTV.
Staff reported this to the British Transport Police who stopped her in the station concourses.
They found she had taken £56 worth of books from the store concealed in her trousers, so they could not be re-sold, Ms Rogers said.
The court also heard that she had 75 previous convictions, including a number for theft.
In mitigation, Rob Moussalli, told the court that she had taken the books for her grandchild's birthday which was coming up and 'stupidly resorted to old habits' and was 'luckily intercepted'.
He admitted that she had a 'lengthy record' but 'had not been in trouble for four years'.
It has also been five months since the offence took place and she has not 'lapsed' again.
Shaw pleaded guilty to theft.
Sentencing Shaw to a 12-month conditional discharge, district judge Bernard Begley, said: "I sincerely hope you have not lapsed into your old ways.
"Put this behind you."
Shaw, of Bradford Road, was also told to pay back the £56 for the books in compensation and other costs.
