|
|
 |
| |
Mother fined over truanting
A MOTHER from King’s Cross has been fined more than £200 for allowing her children to play truant from school.
At Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, the woman, 42, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed her three children were kept out of school because they were at risk of being attacked by an older daughter’s violent ex-partner.
But outside court, she claimed magistrates were “making an example” of her and that she knew “tons” of parents who do not send their children to school.
It was the second time the mother had failed to make three of her children attend classes.
The case was brought by Islington Council under the Education Act.
Magistrates handed down three parenting orders, to run concurrently, and a £40 fine for each child.
The woman, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, was also fined £100 for four breaches of a previous condition discharge on another truanting charge.
She feared for the safety of her children as her eldest daughter’s violent ex-partner was due out of prison between May and July last year.
She said she allowed them to play truant at that time because they needed to be kept at home where they would be safe from the man.
The new 12-month parenting order states the woman must attend a three-month parent support group and all her children must maintain 100 per cent school attendance.
She must also keep scheduled appointments with social services, teachers and educational welfare officers.
The woman told the Tribune outside court: “I’m not a bad mother. I did want to send them to school. I’m on a conditional discharge already and I know the seriousness of it. My kids know I could go to prison for it.
“But the situation with my children is very complicated, and a much bigger story. If I get a parenting order it’s not going to help.
“I know tons of people who don’t send their kids to school. But I don’t see any of them in court. I feel like they’re making an example of me.”
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
