Court upholds 28-day sentence for mother of chronic teenage truant

A MOTHER-OF-THREE jailed for her teenage son’s chronic truancy was back behind bars yesterday after an appeal against her sentence failed.

The 35-year-old woman from Llanelli, south Wales, sobbed quietly to herself as her 28-day jail term was upheld at Swansea Crown Court.

Family members shrieked in dismay as Judge John Diehl said that magistrates in Llanelli had got the sentence right on Monday.

He dismissed suggestions her three days in a cell had already had the desired effect after hearing that her son, 14, had been to school just twice since last September.

But the woman’s ex-husband spoke out after the verdict, warning that the ordeal could “psychologically harm” their son.

“He wants to go back to school and is heartbroken because he thought his mum would be released today.

“Personally I am very disappointed in the outcome and I feel that she is being made a scapegoat,” he said.

Earlier Huw Rees, defending, had said both mother and son had been shaken out of their “complacency” by the unexpected jail term.

He said her son felt “a great deal of self-blame” and was left feeling “scared” by the outcome of his actions. He was ready to return to school.

“It appears that she was somewhat complacent about her appearing before the magistrates and I understand the outcome has brought her up sharp,” he said.

But prosecutor Patrick Griffiths said the mother had made seven previous court appearances for similar offences and had been fined or received suspended sentences.

Carmarthenshire Education Authority had made exhaustive efforts to deal with the problem outside of court but took truancy very seriously.

“They see it as important that all children have a right to education and that an education safeguards and protects their interests,” Mr Griffiths said.

He added the authority had “the conviction that there can be a link between truancy and anti-social behaviour”.

Upholding the 28-day sentence, Judge Diehl said: “We are driven to the conclusion in this case that these offences were so serious only a custodial sentence could be justified.”

Philip Jones, the authority’s education welfare officer, said: “We are very pleased with the outcome. Truancy is a problem in Carmarthenshire and around the country.

“I believe this sends out a strong message to truants and the parents of truants and hopefully we will see more children in school in the future.

“This family have been a concern of the authority for many years and Monday’s court appearance was the mother’s eighth.”