A MAN with a motoring record a judge said was as "bad as he had ever seen" was yesterday jailed for two-and-a-half years and banned from driving for five years.

Mark Andrew Webster, 34, formerly of Lowfield, in Scarborough, had been committed for sentence to York Crown Court by Scarborough magistrates after admitting a string of offences.

They included two cases of failing to provide a breath specimen when suspected of drink-driving, aggravated vehicle taking, two offences of driving while disqualified, obstructing police, driving without insurance, being in possession of cannabis and interfering with a motor vehicle.

The court heard from prosecutor Alan Mitcheson that Webster's record showed 37 previous convictions, covering a total of 136 offences, and that he had twice previously failed to give alcohol breath samples.

For the accused, Elizabeth McLoughlin said: "He realises he has come to the end of the line and wants to settle down and put his past behind him.

"He relied heavily on alcohol, especially when he encountered marriage difficulties, but now has a new woman in his life."

She said he admitted everything and had no excuses.

Jailing and banning Webster, Judge John Bullimore said: "Over the years you have failed to keep away from offending. I have to say your record in regard to driving matters in as bad as ever I have seen."