A father-of-six, jailed for 42 months for a series of burglaries and other crime, had experienced a "very sad event" in his life with the death of his young son, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Shane Smith, aged 33, of Madresfield road, Malvern, had spent several weeks at Birmingham Children's Hospital where his four-year-old eventually died from cancer.

His barrister, Mark Lister, said there had been enormous pressure on the family after the boy had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and his father had eventually "lost the plot" and begun offending.

Prosecutor Kevin Grego outlined how Smith was seen scrapping in the street with his sister, how he had burgled a friends' house knowing they were on holiday, and how he had taken a valuable car to get to Birmingham after he missed the last train.

Since 1997, Smith had 21 convictions for 62 offences. These began when Smith was only 14 and he had served several jail terms for burglary of homes.

The day before his sentencing at crown court, Smith had been acquitted of a burglary in Somers Road, Malvern. He denied entering the house but admitted finding a key for a Land Rover Discovery, which he drove to Birmingham. He also stole Easter Eggs from the vehicle's owners Christopher and Rachel Heard.

While in Birmingham, he twice drove the wrong way along one-way streets before crashing into railings and another car. He said he had been drinking and had taken 14 diazapan tablets.

Mr Grego said that Smith, who admitted aggravated vehicle taking, was in breach of a 16-month suspended jail sentence imposed in July, 2014, for burglary. A few months earlier, a passer-by called police after spotting Smith fighting with his sister Lisa in Merton Road, Malvern. He had grabbed her by the hair, thrown her to the ground and was seen trying to throttle her. Police found marks on her throat.

In August, Smith broke into the home of friends in Cedar Avenue, Malvern, knowing they were on holiday. This was "a mean theft" commented

Recorder Davinder Lachhar(corr). Smith was arrested when he tried to sell the proceeds at a jumble sale in exchange for a car.

Mr Lister, mitigating, said there had been no family life because of the son's stay in hospital. The sister had not made a complaint about her treatment and Smith had tried to rid himself of his heroin and cocaine habit.

He admitted there had been a catalogue of offending but Smith's wife had supported him and was continuing to stand by him.

Recorder Lachhar(cor) said Smith had had to deal with sad events in his personal life but the probation service had done their best to try and help him.

Smith had experienced very sad events but he had gone out of his way to hurt other people.

The burglaries merited immediate custody but he would be given credit for the days he had spent on curfew. He would be disqualified from driving for two years.