A car wash worker decided he wanted new clothes so walked out with a £324 load from the Next store in the Victoria Centre.
When caught, Ritason Cojocaru had a pair of wire cutters which could help to remove security tags, city magistrates heard.
He admitted stealing the goods and going equipped for theft on April 3. He was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and must pay a government surcharge of £85.
Chris Lacey, mitigating, said Cojocaru earns £150 for a 50-hour week at a car wash. On top of that, his family receives £280 state benefits.
"I put to him the question that with an income of over £400 a week, why did he need to take these items. He said 'I could not afford the items I wanted,'" said Mr Lacey.
Robbers threatened to slash the throats of two prostitutes after 'invading' their home, jury told
He told the court Cojocaru handed the stolen items to someone waiting outside. He asked him if there had been "an element of coercion," especially because of concerns about people working in car washes.
Mr Lacey added: "He accepts his own culpability and said there is nothing untoward with regard to the way he was treated."
Daniel Pietryka, prosecuting, said the alarm was raised when 12 security tags were found inside a hood left in the male changing rooms. Around that time, a man had been seen leaving with a large holdall.
Later the man returned and left the changing room with "a bag bulging full of items." Cojocaru was detained and the wire cutters were found on him.
"When interviewed, he said when he went to the store it was not with the intention to steal. But when he discovered that he had the pair of pliers, he thought he would take something after all," added Mr Pietryka.
The court heard he lives with his wife, two children and father-in-law in Exeter Road, Forest Fields.
A probation report said: "He stole the clothes because he wanted new clothes. He admits he didn't consider the financial loss to the company or the impact on society in general."
Cojucaru was helped in court by a Romanian interpreter and was ordered to pay £324 to Next for the missing clothes.
Vandals smash more than 100 historic train carriage windows and cause £80,000 of damage
Land next to HS2 hub earmarked for shops, offices and hundreds of homes goes up for sale
Police officer sentenced for using 'excessive' force after pulling man from patrol car
