A child's sweet-tooth has cost a man hundreds of dollars after he was caught stealing sweets from a Bendigo supermarket.
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Graeme Hamilton, 49, hid a packet of Allen's Frogs Alive and Starburst Babies inside his jumper while at Champion's IGA supermarket in June this year and was stopped by a loss prevention officer when he tried to leave the store without paying for them.
He pleaded guilty in Bendigo Magistrates Court on Monday to one count of shop-theft.
Defence lawyer Alex McLennan told the court his client was on his way to visit his grandson and wanted to take him a gift.
He said Hamilton had been consistently employed as a truck driver for years, but had lost his job in May, had no income and was not yet eligible for the government's New Start allowance.
Magistrate Jennifer Tregent described Hamilton's criminal history as "very limited but serious".
She told him theft was a serious offence which could attract penalties of up to 10 years jail.
She fined him $400 and recorded a conviction.
