Jailed mother of truants released on appeal

A mother jailed for 60 days for allowing her children to play truant from school was freed yesterday after a judge cut her sentence to 28 days.

Patricia Amos, 43, was believed to be the first person jailed under new legislation to crack down on truancy.

Judge Crawford, hearing her appeal at Oxford Crown Court, said: "We have taken all the circumstances into account and the sentence of 60 days' imprisonment, although justified in principle, we think was longer than was necessary."

Amos was due to be released last night, having served 14 days in prison.

Paul Read, the barrister acting for Amos, told the court the new legislation "provides a draconian penalty for inadequate parents".

The court was told Amos had repeatedly failed to ensure her children attended school in Banbury, had repeatedly missed meetings with education officials and had breached a parenting order aimed at ensuring her children attended morning and afternoon registration sessions at the school.

Her daughter Emma, aged 15, attended only 55 out of 190 registrations. Her younger sister, Jackie, aged 13, attended 64.

Explanations as to the girls' refusal to attend included education officials being told the dog had chewed her trainers and "I couldn't make it due to a meningitis injection", the court was told.

After the hearing, Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, which brought the prosecution, said: "We took the case against Mrs Amos to court. It is not the council's policy to discuss the sentence of judges.

"This was a case where the legislation should be applied and we applied it. If necessary we will apply it again if we have tried other measures and if there is a parent who is not getting education for a child.

"I hope this is a warning that we mean business. Truancy is not acceptable, children need their education and they only have one chance."

The original sentence of 60 days had been backed by Estelle Morris, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.