A 22-year-old thief said "stick that in your article" to a court reporter as he left a courtroom moments after being fined.
Callum Brebner, of Pardoe Drive, Pershore, was back at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday (March 23), just over three weeks since his last appearance.
Brebner admitted two thefts from shops with prosecutor Eleaner Peart telling the court both offences took place late last year.
The prosecutor said on November 16 Brebner stole a packet of cooked chicken and a couple of packets of chicken breasts from Co-op in Pershore.
Brebner then stole a box of lights from B&M in Evesham on December 1.
Miss Peart said Brebner had no thefts on his criminal record.
Belinda Ariss, defending Brebner, said the defendant had been very stupid to commit "low-level" stealing.
Miss Ariss said of the Christmas lights theft: "It was his first Christmas in a new home with a partner and wanted lights, so decided to take them.
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"There was a lot going on in his life at the time - he has lots of mental health issues."
When Brebner spoke to confirm how much he received in benefits Brebner added: "I'm truly sorry".
Sentencing him, Deputy District Judge Micaila Williams said: "I'm sure there are things everyone in this courtroom wants but can't afford.
"We have to work hard and save up.
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"It is not your God-given right to take things that don't belong to you."
Brebner was fined £230 for both thefts.
He was ordered to pay £11.50 compensation to Co-op and £10 to B&M, as well as £185 costs and victim surcharge of £184.
The total, £850, was added to money Brebner owes from past offences, being deducted from benefits.
"This has been a very expensive day out for you," the judge added.
As Brebner left the dock and was heading towards the courtroom exit he told the court reporter sitting at the back of the room: "Stick that in your article."
We reported last month Brebner, who has more 10 previous convictions for 20 offences, was in court for assaulting a woman and being a nuisance to his neighbours.
Brebner was placed on a community order and given a strict criminal behaviour order for those offences.
- During the latest court appearance Breber also denied an offence of using threatening/abusive/insulting words /behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress.
That offence is alleged to have taken place on September 15 last year, the alleged victim being Ellie Ryland.
Brebner was told to attend the next hearing of that case at Worcester Magistrates Court on April 13.
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