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Couple jailed for son's truancy | Couple jailed for son's truancy |
(about 3 hours later) | |
An estranged couple have been given jail sentences for repeatedly failing to ensure their son went to school. | An estranged couple have been given jail sentences for repeatedly failing to ensure their son went to school. |
The 15-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, has one of the worst attendance records Flintshire Local Education Authority has ever seen. | The 15-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, has one of the worst attendance records Flintshire Local Education Authority has ever seen. |
The boy's 41-year-old father was jailed for 20 weeks, his 38-year-old mother has been given a sentence of two months. | The boy's 41-year-old father was jailed for 20 weeks, his 38-year-old mother has been given a sentence of two months. |
It is the first such case in the county which has resulted in jail sentences. | It is the first such case in the county which has resulted in jail sentences. |
The council says they also believe the couple are the first in north Wales to be jailed for the offence. | The council says they also believe the couple are the first in north Wales to be jailed for the offence. |
The couple, who live apart, had three previous convictions for failing to ensure regular school attendance. | The couple, who live apart, had three previous convictions for failing to ensure regular school attendance. |
Damien Gaskell, prosecuting for Flintshire local education authority, said it was "a systematic failure to ensure that the child received an education over a number of years." | |
He told magistrates that it was certainly not a victimless crime. | |
"The child is suffering because of a lack of education which is bound to affect his future work prospects," he said. | |
Two of those were the aggravated form of the offence which required knowledge that the child was not attending school, and was therefore subject to a potential prison sentence. | Two of those were the aggravated form of the offence which required knowledge that the child was not attending school, and was therefore subject to a potential prison sentence. |
The boy previously had one of the worst attendance records ever dealt with in the local authority - just 17 per cent. | The boy previously had one of the worst attendance records ever dealt with in the local authority - just 17 per cent. |
It had improved, but was only 30 per cent, Flintshire magistrates' court at Mold was told. | It had improved, but was only 30 per cent, Flintshire magistrates' court at Mold was told. |
Magistrates told the parents they had abdicated their responsibility to ensure the boy received a proper education. | Magistrates told the parents they had abdicated their responsibility to ensure the boy received a proper education. |
The court was told that while they were in custody arrangements had been made for the boy to live with a relative who had children of her own. | The court was told that while they were in custody arrangements had been made for the boy to live with a relative who had children of her own. |
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