A bungling meat thief was caught with £36.21 worth of steak down his trousers.
Kenneth Milne appeared at Arbroath Sheriff Court after a botched raid at the Co-op supermarket in Montrose on Saturday.
The 33-year-old admitted shoving three rib-eye steaks and two rump steaks into the waistband of his trousers before attempting to leave the store.
Milne’s co-accused, Mark Lees, admitted taking a banoffee pie, cream, coffee and a chocolate bar during the same failed effort.
The court heard a member of the public saw Milne leaving the shop and putting some goods under a car before going back inside.
She added: “Mr Milne had several large items sticking out from his waistband.
When questioned by officers he said: ‘It’s meat from the Co-op it’s nicked. I’m just stealing to live, I only get £42 per week.”
Milne’s defence agent Hamish Watt said the goods were for the pair’s own consumption.
He added: “I don’t think there is any doubt that the thefts were not committed so the items could be sold on, but were so they could be consumed as food.”
Both men live together at an address on Montrose High Street, with Milne paying Lees £5 a week towards bills.
Defence agent Keith Sim said Lees has problems with heroin and is on a methadone prescription.
“He is at a point where is about to start a reduction in his prescription his position is that he wants to stop using drugs,” Mr Sim said.
“It (the theft) was simply to give him something to eat, not for any other purpose.”
Sheriff Peter Paterson said he was taking note of the fact that Milne had never served a custodial sentence.
He said: “I will grant him bail and continue the matter to September 3.”
Lees was ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work. Sentence was deferred on Milne to allow for the preparation of social work reports.