A MOTHER has been jailed for failing to make her daughter go to school.

Linda Smith, 52, admitted she had failed to make her teenage daughter attend Broad Oak High in Bury. It was the third time in two years she had appeared before magistrates for the same offence.

The mother-of-three is one of the first parents to be jailed for the offence in Greater Manchester. An order which would have prevented her identification was lifted after an application to Bury magistrates by the M.E.N and other media.

The court heard that in August 2004 Smith, of Copse Drive, Bury, was fined '200 for not making her daughter go to school between January 5 and May 28.

Failed

She appeared before magistrates again in April last year after the teenager failed to attend between September 2004 and January 28, 2005. Smith was then conditionally discharged for two years and given a parenting order.

Magistrates heard that numerous efforts by education workers to contact her and arrange school meetings had failed.

Smith failed to answer her front door, ignored telephone calls and written letters from education welfare officers, and failed to abide by the terms of the parenting order.

Last month she pleaded guilty to her third offence after magistrates were told her daughter did not attend school once between September 21 and November 4 last year.

Magistrates jailed her for 20 days. They said they had no option because the continued absence was harming the girl's education.

'Wilful disregard'

Chairman of the bench Alan Rogers told Smith: "We are not convinced by your personal determination to send her to school. In fact, we believe you wilfully disregarded your own personal responsibility.

"The offence was committed knowing the likely outcome. The risk of harm is high. We feel no other sentence is appropriate other than an immediate custodial sentence.

"You have failed to comply with court orders and the education welfare officers."

Magistrates were told problems with absenteeism began when the girl was at primary school. They heard there were no issues with bullying, simply that the girl "does not want to go".

Yolanda Addisson, prosecuting, said Smith felt it "wholly unfair" that she was being punished for her daughter's actions.

She said: "It may be that it is already too late to help her, but if she misses any more school then she is not going to get her GCSEs."

Shabir Khattak, defending, said the girl would lock herself in her bedroom and not get out of bed.

Mystery

"To drag her from home through the streets is going to be extremely difficult. It has proved extremely difficult for her.

"It is not a question that Miss Smith does not want her to do well at school or go to school.

"No one knows why she is acting in this fashion. It is a mystery. Nobody can tell her what to do.

"Teachers have indicated she is relatively articulate. She is a bright young girl. Miss Smith feels that it is unfair."

Council education bosses welcomed the jail sentence. Alan Cogswell, social inclusion service manager, said: "Parents should listen to this and take heed. We have a responsibility to safeguard children's interests and needs."

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