SINGAPORE - An unemployed man who committed 10 offences of theft and dishonest misappropriation of property while on a prison remission order was jailed for 50 months on Thursday (March 22).

For breaching a prison remission order, Azman Murad was given an additional sentence of 228 days' jail, the term being the remaining duration of his order.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of mobile phone theft and one of theft of a woman's handbag containing, cash, credit cards and other items.

In all, he stole items worth about $8,500 plus two Apple iPhone 6 of unknown value between May 11 last year (2016) and Feb 18 this year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor NK Anitha said on May 15 last year, Azman was at Gong Cha outlet in Clementi Mall when he saw Chinese national Yong Yi Qing's $400 mobile phone unattended and filched it while she was not looking.

When Ms Yong realised her phone was missing, she tried calling her number but Azman had switched it off.

He subsequently sold the phone for $100 to an unknown person.

Two days later, he was at Bugis Junction when he stole shop assistant Wang Yue's mobile phone worth $1,150 when the 28-year-old had left it unattended at Zinc store.

He immediately made his way to Clementi West Avenue 2 and sold the phone to a stallholder for $120.

Azman was charged in court on July 26 last year, and his police bail was extended.

DPP Anitha said he was, from March 30 to Dec 28 last year, subject to a remission order, which he breached, and was thus liable to be punished with an enhanced sentence of a jail term not exceeding the remaining duration of the remission order.

On Feb 18 this year, Azman was walking around Paragon shopping centre when he saw Ms Michele Yap's handbag that was left unattended on the baby stroller at Mothercare.

As he was in need of money, he stole the 39-year-old bank executive's bag with personal belongings and valuables totalling at least $3,680.

He took the cash and two mobile phones. He claimed that he placed some items in a plastic bag and deposited it into a post box at Clementi West Street 2 and threw away the remaining items. He also claimed that he sold the phones to an Indonesian sailor in Clementi for $200 each.

Azman had previous convictions for drug consumption, cheating, theft in dwelling and was last given 27 months' jail for theft in 2014.

District Judge Tan Jen Tse backdated his sentence to March 15 and took six charges into consideration in sentencing.

The maximum penalty for theft in dwelling is seven years and a fine on each charge.