Geoffrey James Reeves, 38, was riding a bicycle along Thompson Street in darkness with a head torch when he was stopped by police about 10.15pm on March 19.

According to court documents, while police searched Reeves' backpack, he indicated to officers he had an animal prod which he took from his work at a livestock feed store.

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Reeves claimed to have just finished work, but when police said to him the store had been closed since 5.30pm, he changed his story a further three times.

Initially Reeves stated his boss gave him the prod, but then said he bought it from work, then claimed his boss gave him a key to go in after work.

Given the differing version of events and hesitation to give his boss' details, police believed Reeves had either stolen the device or attended work after hours to retrieve it.

Police contacted the business owner who checked stock sales to find they had one device in stock, but it had not been sold. The version of events given by Reeves were also found to be false.

The business owner informed police Reeves' primary role was job production and the bagging of stock feeds, and he did not have any direct involvement with animals, therefore had no reason for possessing the device, which is used for stock movements.

Police confronted Reeves on March 20, where he admitted to stealing the device one afternoon before finishing his shift. Initially he told police he stole the animal prod for personal protection, however later said he stole it for his girlfriend for her protection whilst she was home alone during the day.

When Reeves was arrested and searched, police also located a resealable bag containing cannabis in his pants pocket.

Police were led to believe he was cultivating cannabis at his home, which Reeves denied and allowed officers to search his yard.

During the search Reeves' girlfriend indicated to police a cannabis plant being grown behind the shed.

One plant was located and removed.

Reeves' defence told the court the animal prop stolen was not of significant value at at $50, but rather his drug habit was the main concern, and had an ongoing relationship with drug use, which began at the age of 11.

At Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday Reeves pleaded guilty to one count of stealing property, one count of possessing a prohibited drug and one count of cultivating a prohibited plant.

Reeves was convicted for all three offences. In relation to the property theft issued a community corrections order for 12 months under supervision and fined $600 for drug possession and cultivating a prohibited plant.