A Southampton man today admitted attempting to steal frozen chicken from a grocery store by hiding it in his pants.

Paul Williams, 34, of St Anne’s Road, was seen by a MarketPlace manager shoving a bag of “frozen chicken sections”, valued at $13.99, down the front of his trousers.

Williams then approached the cashier with several other items in his shopping cart but told the cashier he had forgotten his wallet and would be right back, Magistrates’ Court heard.

Williams then attempted to leave the store but was confronted by the manager who asked him why he didn’t pay for the chicken.

He initially denied hiding the chicken but then admitted the offence, telling the manager: “I don’t have any money and I was hungry.”

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner adjourned sentencing until June 11 when Williams, who is already in police custody, will be sentenced for a previous matter.