A man tried to steal tobacco as a gift for a friend who offers him free board.
But the £200 haul was found on Arian Rahimi and he was brought to Nottingham Magistrates' Court.
That led to a one-year conditional discharge for Rahimi, 34, of Hartley Road, Radford .
He must pay £85 prosecution costs and a £21 government surcharge.
Bill Soughton, mitigating, said that he has been in the UK for a decade and has never been in trouble before.
As an asylum seeker, he is not allowed to work and has spent eight years awaiting an interview for permission to be permitted to remain here.
A friend runs a restaurant and car wash. He has provided a home for Rahimi.
Mr Soughton told the court: "He smokes and finds it difficult to give it up.
"He also wanted to give his friend a present for looking after him so well. He realises it was a stupid thing," he told District Judge Leo Pyle.
Lee Shepherd, prosecuting, said that the offence took place at the Booker Cash and Carry on The Midway, Lenton industrial estate, on Saturday, December 7.
Security staff used CCTV to watch two men who took items from a shelf.
Rahimi seemed to be hiding some tobacco products, which were recovered. He refused to answer questions when detained by police officers and the second suspect managed to run away.
Rahimi admitted theft and must pay the court bill at a rate of £10 a fortnight.
The judge told him: "If you commit another offence in a year, you will be re-sentenced for this."
