Jayde Leigh Harris had the meat, as well as a packet of chocolates, inside his underwear.

Albury Local Court heard this week that Harris was then extremely aggressive when police tried to arrest him.

Magistrate Tony Murray said it was clear Harris had long-standing issues with alcohol.

But he said the strange nature of his offending meant Harris might also be suffering from mental health issues.

Harris, 34, an unemployed tradesman who hopes to see work in Far North Queensland, pleaded guilty to charges of shoplifting and resist police.

Defence solicitor Jim Allen said Harris had just had a breakdown in the relationship with his partner “and he’s reached for the bottle”.

“This is entirely different offending,” he said.

Mr Allen said that to describe the Albury man’s behaviour as bizarre “is quite an understatement”.

He said it was quite clear that Harris needed to do something about his consumption of alcohol.

To that end, Harris intended on committing himself to some kind of residential rehabilitation program “to break this circle”.

Mr Murray was told in facts put before him that Harris’s offending was detected by chance when police were on patrol at the Coles supermarket in Lavington on May 15 at 10.30pm.

Harris was in an aisle walking towards the checkout register.

Police were told how Harris had been seen in the refrigerated meat section shoving trays down the front of his pants.

“The accused had large bulges at the front and sides of his red-coloured board shorts,” said police, who immediately deducted he was thieving.

The bulge was made up smallgoods (namely $5 of sliced meat), $15.62 of pork spare ribs, porterhouse steak valued at $34.65 and veal fillets valued at $15.79, plus a $10 packet of M&Ms.

Harris, who smelt of alcohol, became argumentative and belligerent.

He struggled through holding one arm under his body to avoid being handcuffed.

Harris had claimed a fictional “Barry” was outside the supermarket waiting to pay for his shopping.

He was put on a 12-month good behaviour bond, convicted and fined $900 and ordered to pay Coles $80.95 compensation.