A SWEET tooth for chocolate has resulted in a man having to pay more in court fees than his attempted stolen goods were worth.
Edward Harry Matthews, 61, appeared at the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Tuesday for a charge of theft.
The prosecutor said on May 11, Matthews attempted to steal two bars of chocolate from Foodland Mount Gambier.
She said he tried to leave through the store’s no exit sign but the goods were recovered.
The court heard Matthews had at history of similar offences which occurred in 2018 and 2015.
Matthews said he was living in Mount Gambier alone and had no family.
He told the court he was in receipt of a pension.
“I was just hungry and I could not afford to buy it,” the defendant said.
Magistrate Panagiotidis told Matthews he should have tried saving up a few dollars to pay for the chocolate instead of stealing it.
“You are now going to end up paying a lot of money from court fees,” she said.
Matthews was ordered to pay prosecution and levy fees totalling $310.
