A Southampton dishwasher was fined after he walked out of a Hamilton grocery store without paying.

Brian Jones, 54, of Railway Trail, Southampton pleaded guilty to stealing two packages of batteries and a Vitamalt drink.

Crown counsel Larissa Burgess said a manager at the Hamilton Marketplace saw Jones walk out of the store with a drink in his hand on August 20.

Knowing Jones from previous incidents, the manager followed him outside and asked if he had paid for the drink.

Jones admitted that he hadn't, saying he forgot.

A search of his pockets also revealed two packages of batteries that Jones admitted he hadn't paid for. The manager found $21, enough to pay for all of the items, in Jones' wallet.

In Magistrates' Court yesterday, Jones insisted that he intended to pay.

"I was in the store listening to my voicemail, and someone told me that someone was trying to take my bike," he said. "I was just going outside to check the bike."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner replied: "And you expect me to believe that?"

Mr. Warner fined Jones $500, saying: "You have numerous breaking and entering offences, and there have been many other incidents where you have walked out of a store without paying, and you're telling me this one was a mistake?

"This happens all the time. Why should I believe you?"