Thief caught over $2 lollies

A Wollongong man was free on bail for less than ten minutes after allegedly stealing two dollars worth of lollies from a service station.

Leslie Juhasz then allegedly ripped his mattress apart and licked his own urine in his holding cell at Wollongong Police Station, the Illawarra Mercury reports.

Juhasz' defence lawyer Laura Fennell said her client has mental health issues during a bail hearing where the allegations were aired.

The 51-year-old was released on conditional bail for separate offences about 7.45am Saturday morning, the court heard.

Just 10 minutes later, Juhasz walked into a service station, picked up a Sweet and Sour lolly, and put it down the front of his pants in an attempt to steal it.

When the female shop attendant told him to "put the friggin' lollies back", Juhasz allegedly grabbed a handful of chocolate bars and began to walk out of the store saying he would "bash her"if she touched him.

The woman then alerted police and Juhasz was arrested.

He has been charged with shoplifting, resisting police intimidation and damaging property after the cell incident.