Picking up a small sum of money left at a supermarket checkout proved embarrassing for a Hamilton Parish man, who ended up in Magistrates’ Court.

Edmond Saunders, 64, was given a conditional discharge by Magistrate Juan Wolffe after being charged with stealing $12.99 from the MarketPlace at Shelly Bay.

Saunders apologised, saying he’d found it strange that the money had been sitting unattended. He also corrected the court, saying the actual amount had been $14.

The Red Kiln Road resident was picked up by police after being spotted on CCTV taking the money, on the morning of May 11. The cash had been left by an employee.

“It was a stupid thing to do,” he told police. The court heard Saunders had paid back the store and apologised.

Giving Saunders a six-month conditional discharge, Mr Wolffe noted he had a clean record, and advised him to go for the next 64 years without committing any offences.