A step-dad who put providing for his family before a court order to carry out unpaid work has been jailed for five months.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Aaron Smith acted with “a degree of short-sightedness” in choosing to earn income as a labourer to look after his partner and her four children instead of undertaking the 250 hours he had been ordered to do.

The legal requirement was part of a two-year suspended sentence imposed on the 28-year-old in June 2014 for assault causing actual bodily harm.

But hearing that Smith only completed 35 hours, Judge Julian Smith branded it an “abject failure”.

Activating part of the 30-week custodial term of the suspended sentence, the judge said: “You knew you had punishment imposed upon you that had to be met.

"You knew you had punishment imposed upon you that had to be met." - Judge Julian Smith

“You found that an enormous imposition and rather than knuckle down and get on with it, you walked away.”

The court heard Smith, of Hazel Drive, Slade Green, worked as a labourer for a plasterer, electrician and solar-panel fitter to support his family of three years.

But Judge Smith added his duty to his family meant carrying out court orders.

Smith failed to attend court last summer in relation to the breach of his suspended sentence, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He admitted the offence last week. Craig Evans, defending, said Smith was a man with strong family values.

“There has been a degree of short-sightedness on his part since the order was imposed,” he added.