Man jailed because of his son's truancy (From Witney Gazette)

Man jailed because of his son's truancy

7:44am Friday 17th November 2006 in Witney By Giles Sheldrick

A 54-year-old man has become the first father in Oxfordshire, and one of only a handful nationwide, to be jailed because of his son's truancy.

The single parent was given a two-week sentence by Oxford magistrates for allowing the boy to skip school between November last year and May.

He has become the second Oxfordshire parent to be imprisoned in a month - and the third in total - for allowing his child to miss class.

The Witney Gazette is banned by the courts from naming the boy and his school.

But it can be revealed his father was given a six- month suspended prison sentence earlier thos year for failing to secure his son's attendance. However, the boy continued to miss school, and when his father appeared at court this month for a third time, magistrates felt they were left with no option.

Neighbours described him as a 'waster, who lived off the state', who allowed his son to stay at home and watch television.

One neighbour said: "All they do all day is sit in front of the television."

The Gazette contacted the boy's secondary school, but was told it 'would not comment directly'.

Just last month, in a separate case, a 39-year-old mother was given an eight-week jail term after her daughter skipped classes between May and July this year.

Barry Armstrong, Oxfordshire County Council's pupil welfare officer, vowed to continue to take 'all necessary action' against parents who failed to ensure their children get to school.

He said: "Imprisonment is clearly a serious outcome for the family, but we use the courts as a last resort, when a parent will not engage, despite best efforts, with all the support that has been offered, and where a child's attendance remains poor.

"Our support measures mean the vast majority of truancy cases never reach the courts - less than five per cent - and much of this has been achieved working alongside families and school to try resolve whatever problems exist."

In 2002, Patricia Amos of Banbury, became the first parent in the country to be jailed for allowing her daughters to play truant. Although truancy in Oxfordshire has dropped, prosecutions have almost doubled, from 35 cases, in 2004/05, to 61, in 2005/06.