Parents of truants fined

A total of 50 prosecutions were brought in three months against parents whose children failed to attend school.

At Lewes Magistrates Court 16 prosecutions led to fines totalling 1,500 and costs of 1,350. In one case a parent who had breached a School Attendance Order for her three children was fined 300.

In Eastbourne 15 cases were heard by magistrates, resulting in 1,050 in fines and 775 in costs. One parent who pleaded guilty received a 150 hour community order.

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Fines of 660 with 865 in costs were given to parents in 19 cases brought before Hastings magistrates. One parent, whose daughter had attended just 42 per cent of sessions between February and July 2007, pleaded guilty and was given an 18-month conditional discharge.

East Sussex County Council brought the prosecutions in the last three months of 2007.

Cllr Rupert Simmons said: 'We fully support and work with those who have problems making sure their children attend school and cases only end up in court when we feel a parent is ignoring the problem or refuses to work with us to solve it.'