A serial thief resorted to crime after having his benefits stopped, a court has heard.
CCTV snared serial thief Adam Cronin swiping steaks from Morrisons on June 20.
Police caught him days later - only for crafty Cronin to give them both a false name and date of birth.
But not only did that fail, they also found cannabis on him.
The offences occurred just four days after the 24-year-old was handed a conditional discharge for earlier theft charges.
North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard unemployed Cronin walked from Newcastle's West End to his solicitors office in the East End - just to get a lift to court.
Liz Dunbar, mitigating, said: "That demonstrates a level of responsibility that he must attend court.
Cronin, of Jennison Avenue, admitted shop theft, cannabis possession, obstructing a constable and failing to answer to the police as soon as practicable.
He was already on both a conditional discharge and a community order so magistrates re-sentenced him to an 18-month community order.
His solicitor told the court the defendant, a former labourer, had huge faced huge difficulties and took drugs "to escape".
His benefits are currently sanctioned and due to issues reading and writing struggled with the forms - and keeping a roof over his head.
Ms Dunbar added: "He's a young lad who has had difficulty with his education," admitted the the brief.
"Rather than find himself homeless again he foolishly committed these offences."
Cronin must also pay £100 compensation to the supermarket and a £50 fine.
