A man who admitted stealing $5.10 worth of candies and cakes from a supermarket brought a moment of light-hearted relief in Magistrates Court when he asked to be given an ?honourable discharge? from Senior Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo.

A banana cake, a Portuguese donut and five Tootsie Rolls were found in Willis Outerbridge?s trouser pockets after he was stopped outside Arnold?s family supermarket in Pembroke on suspicion of leaving the shop without paying for the items.

The 41-year-old pleaded guilty to taking the items on January 21 this year.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told the court that Outerbridge, of Marsh Lane, Pembroke, had aroused the suspicion of shop staff because of his behaviour while in the store and he was watched as he went to the bread aisle and placed items in the back pocket of his trousers.

Outerbridge then went to the check-out counter and paid for two Elephant beers but did not pay for the items in his pockets before leaving the shop. He was stopped outside by staff and Police were called. Outerbridge had the candies and cakes in his pocket.

Outerbridge told the court he had been brought up on drugs and his actions had been caused by his drug addiction. He said he was now working and his boss was helping him to get onto a rehabilitation programme.

Mr. Tokunbo asked:?What should I do with you?? to which the defendant replied: ?Give me an honourable discharge, sir.?

Mr. Tokunbo responded: ?An honourable discharge? This is not the army.?

He ordered Outerbridge to pay a $300 fine by Friday and added: ?I hope you are going to get over this sort of thing. You are getting too old for this silliness.?