A thief stuffed 10 packets of Cathedral City cheddar cheese down his pants.
Craig Williams was spotted walking out of an Ashington branch of McColls with the goods shoved down his trousers.
It only took police 30 minutes to find the 44-year-old and he pleaded guilty to theft at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court.
Williams told the court he should only pay half the compensation requested by prosecutors - as the cheddar was half price.
The shop had requested almost £50 for the cheese, with prosecutor James Long stating: "The property is recovered but it is not in a saleable condition."
The court heard that Williams, of Sycamore Street, Ashington, defendant - who had a host of previous convictions - has a "seeping abscess" on this leg.
Stuart Hay, defending, said that "fairly serious" abscess is set to get him out of carrying out unpaid work he was previously sentenced too for a different crime.
However the solicitor also said the abscess has meant he can't do drugs, adding: "(Williams) tells me that he has found himself out of trouble because if the issues he has had with the abscess."
However, the two-man bench ordered him to pay full price - £49.90 - in compensation for the cheese.
He must also pay £85 costs. The money will be recovered from benefits.
