A Sidmouth grandfather who was branded ‘a danger on the roads’ will be spending Christmas in jail.

Adam Scott Smith was convicted of a host of driving offences at Exeter Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The court heard the 41-year-old was a prolific offender, having committed numerous driving offences in the past.

The grandfather-of-five was sentenced to three counts of driving while disqualified, three charges of driving without insurance, obstructing a police constable, and to driving while over the alcohol limit – namely with 41 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres.

Smith’s partner sobbed at the back of the court room as he was told he would be sent immediately to jail to serve an 18-week sentence.

Chairman of the bench Hilary Drew said: “It appears to the bench that you have a total disregard of court orders. We believe you have breached the custody threshold. These matters are so serious. You are a prolific offender for driving while disqualified and you are a danger on the roads.”

Smith was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge and banned from driving for three years for the offences.

Defending, Katrina Byrne said Smith was a full-time carer for his partner and had been going through a lot over the last few months.

The court heard Smith, of Locks Close, and his family had been under a lot of stress as there were ongoing family court proceedings.

Miss Byrne said, at one point, Smith and his partner were providing emergency accommodation for his five grandchildren, who were between 18 months and 13 years old and needed to be taken to different schools.

She added: “He acknowledges that he made some poor decisions and said they were made in the heat of the moment.

“He is known in Sidmouth so won’t be able to drive around without being noticed. It would not only be a punishment for him but for his grandchildren and his wife who he cares for.”