A MAN with a significant criminal history told police he was a "horrible person" for stealing a wallet.

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Paul Swift was released from custody on Monday after pleading guilty to two charges.

In December last year, Swift went to a Mildura Chemist Warehouse store, where a customer in front of him had walked off, accidentally leaving his wallet on a counter.

The accused promptly pocketed the victim's wallet and, when the man returned a short time later to find it, passed up the opportunity to return it.

While at the store he also stole a $15 bottle of Cepacaine to use for a toothache.

He was arrested on Monday morning and told police he was a "horrible person" for stealing the man's wallet.

Defence counsel Alexis Buckley said Swift had a significant criminal history and was serving a community corrections order, wholly focused on treatment for drugs and alcohol.

She said he had a significant drug history and the wallet did not contain any money, calling it a crime of convenience.

Swift was placed on a second community corrections order to carry out 30 hours of work.