A man caught stealing a pack of four Mars bars from the B&M store in Spalding had a small kitchen knife in his jeans pocket.
Andris Ivzans (42) had been drinking before he went into the shop and blamed that for the theft, Spalding magistrates heard.
The court heard the kitchen knife was normally kept in his work trousers pocket, but they went in the wash that day and, without thinking, Ivzans put the knife in the pocket of his jeans.
Ivzans (42), of Barge Close, Spalding, was fined £200 for possessing a knife in a public place and £135 for stealing Mars bars worth £1.49.
He pleaded guilty to both offences.
Ivzans must also pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Solicitor Mark Hudson, mitigating, said Ivzans didn’t know why he stole the chocolate.
He said: “He thinks that he saw a queue, didn’t want to wait and simply walked out.”