A 23-year-old man who stole protein powder from a Ballarat supermarket had an unsuccessful getaway after he left his identification at the store.
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Jayden Curwood placed the two tubs of protein powder in his bag but it got caught on an exit barrier as he fled Coles supermarket on July 30, 2017.
A staff member opened the bag to find the protein powder and Curwood's birth certificate inside.
A quick search on a social media website, and the staff member linked Curwood's profile to the birth certificate.
Curwood pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Wednesday to stealing the protein powder.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Steve Kent said Curwood entered Coles supermarket in Eastwood Street at 12.50pm.
He said he placed two tubs of protein powder, worth $57, into his bag and paid for a tub of butter but not the protein powder.
The court was told a staff member asked Curwood to open his bag but he refused and ran past her.
Leading Senior Constable Kent said Curwood's bag then got caught on the exit barrier and he left the store without it.
Defence barrister Zoran Petric said his client was getting back into boxing at the gym when he stole the protein powder.
He said Curwood was homeless at the time of the offending and the theft was out of character.
"It was an act of desperation," Mr Petric said.
He said the offending pre-dated more serious charges which put Curwood in jail for a significant time.
Mr Petric said Curwood was currently on a community corrections order and urged the court to fine his client, without a conviction.
But the magistrate said a non-conviction penalty was out of the question.
Curwood was convicted and fined $1000.
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