Christian Knight, 28, of Pile Court, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday to shop theft and breaching a corrections order.

He was jailed for the seven days he had already spent in custody on remand.

The corrections order, which he was placed on after pleading guilty to unrelated shop thefts, was cancelled.

The man appeared via video-link and did a little dance upon finding out he would be released from custody.

Earlier, October 3: A Portland man plans to contest one charge of theft after he was allegedly observed by police hiding stolen chocolate in a bush.

Christian Knight, 28, of Pile Court, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday where he made a self-represented bail application.

He is charged with one count of shop theft after allegedly stealing three chocolate bars from the United petrol station in Hamilton's Cox Street about 1.55am on Thursday.

He left the shop and road toward Gray Street on a black mountain bike.

The court heard police patrolled the streets and located Mr Knight outside a Ballarat Road property. He was attempting to conceal items in a bush.

When approached by police he became aggressive and ran away.

He was eventually arrested and conveyed to Hamilton police station.

Officers re-attended the Ballarat Road property and found the three stolen chocolate bars hidden inside the bush.

During the bail application, Mr Knight yelled: "I didn't do it".

Magistrate Michael Coghlan said the accused was clearly drug affected, to which Mr Knight replied: "I haven't had nothing, I'm having a hard time do you know what I mean?."

The magistrate said at the time of the offending, Mr Knight was on summons for similar offending, as well as a corrections order.

He said if Mr Knight pleaded guilty to the single charge he would be jailed for seven days.

But if he didn't, he said the accused could spend up to 11 days in custody on remand, and even longer if the matter was adjourned to a contest mention.

Mr Knight said he wanted to plead guilty and then come back and plead not guilty to the same charge.

Mr Coghlan said he would adjourn the matter so the accused could sober up.

He remanded Mr Knight in custody until October 10 and told him to "behave himself".

"Otherwise you'll be in there for a lot longer than seven days," the magistrate said.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.