Parent sentenced in truancy case
Joe Lepper
Monday, October 13, 2008
A parent has received two suspended jail sentences as part of a truancy crackdown by East Sussex County Council.
She received an eight week suspended sentence after pleading guilty to an offence of failing to ensure her child attended school.
The parent, who had appeared before magistrates six times for the same offence and cannot be named for legal reasons, received a further eight week suspended sentence for breaching a previous conditional discharge.
This is one of 73 cases taken by the council over the last three months against parents who have either ignored their child's truancy or failed to cooperate with schools on the issue.
Over the same period the area's three magistrates courts in Hastings, Eastbourne and Lewes ordered parents of truants to pay more than £8,000 in fines and costs.
Councillor David Elkin, East Sussex County Council's lead member for learning and school effectiveness, said: "Our education welfare service is educating all our pupils about the importance of school.
"But parents who refuse work with us to address a serious absence problem should be aware that we will take them to court if necessary."
