Mum back in court over son's truancy
A MUM appeared in court for the third time for not making sure her child goes to school.
Hazel Ivey's son only had a 71 per cent attendance record, with 138 out of 194 possible sessions at school over a six-month period.
Ivey appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court and admitted failing to secure her son's regular attendance at Wellfield Community School, Wingate, between October 20 last year and April 3.
Justices heard it was the 43-year-old's third offence of its kind in two years. Ivey previously received a 100 fine and a 12-month community order for those convictions.
When she appeared back at court for her latest offence, magistrates gave Ivey a two-year conditional discharge and ordered her to pay 75 costs.
After hearing the youngster's attendance had since improved, chairman of the magistrates' bench Ian Ferguson told Ivey: "We understand it's not easy.
"A 24-month conditional discharge doesn't mean you've got off with it. We hope your son's attendance will improve greatly and we hope that you will be back on the right track again."
Vanessa O'Brien, prosecuting on behalf of Durham County Council's education welfare service, said 54 out of the boy's 56 absences were unauthorised and the service had been involved with the youngster since November 2006.
Ms O'Brien said Ivey had failed to respond to a series of letters from the service and five visits had been arranged at the family home in Salter's Lane, Wingate, though contact was only made on one of the visits.
The court heard that when Ivey did get in touch with the service, she said her son had no problems in school and appeared happy.
"When asked about the absence, she claimed she had been taking her son to school every day and she thought there had been no absence," said Ms O'Brien.
The court heard that Ivey claimed she had never received any letters from the service.
Ivey, who represented herself in court, said: "My son has lost a lot of school but we have had two deaths in the family.
"But now he is a different child altogether. He has got on with a new lot of children, there is no bother and he gets up and goes to school. His attendance has gone up."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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