package python3.5-dev 3.5.2-2ubuntu0~16.04.1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration

[Rob Parenton]

on bootup error occurs.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: python3.5-dev 3.5.2-2ubuntu0~16.04.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-96.119-generic 4.4.83
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-96-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.10
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Oct 3 06:54:12 2017
DpkgHistoryLog:
 Start-Date: 2017-10-03 06:53:52
 Commandline: /usr/bin/unattended-upgrade
 Upgrade: poppler-utils:amd64 (0.41.0-0ubuntu1.2, 0.41.0-0ubuntu1.3), libnss3-nssdb:amd64 (2:3.28.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.2, 2:3.28.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.3), dnsmasq-base:amd64 (2.75-1ubuntu0.16.04.2, 2.75-1ubuntu0.16.04.3), firefox-locale-en:amd64 (55.0.2+build1-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 56.0+build6-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), libidn11:amd64 (1.32-3ubuntu1.1, 1.32-3ubuntu1.2), libnss3:amd64 (2:3.28.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.2, 2:3.28.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.3), ca-certificates:amd64 (20160104ubuntu1, 20170717~16.04.1), firefox:amd64 (55.0.2+build1-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 56.0+build6-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), libpoppler-glib8:amd64 (0.41.0-0ubuntu1.2, 0.41.0-0ubuntu1.3), libpoppler58:amd64 (0.41.0-0ubuntu1.2, 0.41.0-0ubuntu1.3)
DuplicateSignature:
 package:python3.5-dev:3.5.2-2ubuntu0~16.04.1
 Processing triggers for mime-support (3.59ubuntu1) ...
 dpkg: error processing package python3.5-dev (--configure):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-03-27 (192 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Alpha amd64 (20160307)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.2
 apt 1.2.24
SourcePackage: python3.5
Title: package python3.5-dev 3.5.2-2ubuntu0~16.04.1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)