Shaun Mccallum, 72, of Lava Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to shop steal and failing to answer bail.

The court heard on April 9 he attended the Coles supermarket on Warrnambool's Mortlake Road at 7.20am. A member of the public observed him stealing a packet of pain relief medication Nurofen and alerted a staff member.

Mccallum proceeded to pay for nine items but stole the medication as well as some shallots. He left the store and was followed by a staff member, who asked him to return the stolen items.

He handed back the pain medication and became verbally abusive. The staff member contacted Triple 0 and police attended.

Mccallum told police he did not have a name. He was arrested and transported to Warrnambool police station. He was identified through police data and later made full admission to the theft.

He was bailed to appear in court on July 3 but failed to appear on that date.

Mccallum told the court he was heavily medicated at the time of the offending.

But magistrate Michael Coghlan said the man had been stealing for years.

"Why do you keep stealing? And don't blame it on medication for heaven's sake," he said.

Mccallum replied: "I'm a thief".

The magistrate convicted and fined the man $300.

"Eventually someone might get sick of you if you keep coming back," he said.

"They might decide that you're not too old to go to jail."

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