Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim told Thomas John Collis that what especially troubled him about his offending "is that you were on a bond" at the time.

Collis had been suffering with alcohol abuse issues, but Albury Local Court heard he had managed to abstain for six months. 

He had also kept away from methamphetamine for even longer, though still dabbled in cannabis.

The 26-year-old's latest crimes, it was argued in his defence, were "clearly opportunistic".

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Collis found a stolen bank card, but instead of handing it in to police he went on a shopping spree for food and smokes.

He was to have been sentenced in late January, but this had to be deferred by magistrate Rodney Brender because of the defendant's mental health issues.

His lawyer had pointed out that Collis was keen to address this, but the earliest available appointment was for February 7.

Collis previously pleaded guilty to four counts of dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception and to custody of a knife in a public place.

He carried knives, Mr Abdul-Karim was told, for "safety" reasons as "he believed people were following him around".

The good behaviour bond breached by Collis was over a conviction he received for making a false report to police resulting in an investigation.

Collis had claimed he was the victim of an armed robbery where a hunting knife was pointed at his chest in Stanley Street, Albury, on March 17, 2017.

Mr Abdul-Karim said this offence was puzzling as "there doesn't appear to be a motive".

It was revealed though that Collis, who is unemployed, made the report before submitting multiple Centrelink applications for emergency funds.

The ANZ bank card was stolen on September 21.

Early the next morning Collis went to the BP in Wodonga Place, South Albury, and spent $76, then a few hours later another $86.

The weapons, a Leatherman knife, a tomahawk and a silver pocket knife, were found when he was searched by police in Stanley Street on October 6.

Mr Abdul-Karim placed Collis on an eight-month intensive correctives order, requiring him to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work.