A MOTHER from Worcester narrowly avoided a second jail sentence when her truant son wrote an impassioned letter to a judge.

Tanya Brookes was told by deputy district judge David Goodman she could go to prison after her 14-year-old son Joshua attended just 44 out of 160 sessions – equivalent to 22 days in 80 – in four months at the former Elgar Technology College.

But a letter submitted to the court by the youngster begging for another chance swayed the judge’s decision.

John Dollin, prosecuting on behalf of Worcestershire County Council, said education welfare officers had been brought in to deal with the problem, and the school and the welfare officers had given the family their full support.

Judge Goodman said the letter, which was not read out in court, was “powerful” and had influenced his decision.

However, he said that she had told probation officers that she was not responsible and had tried everything to get her son to school.

“You are responsible for your son and the fact that you told officers that you didn’t think you were says a lot. You need to make sure that he goes to school every day,” he said.

The 36-year-old of Bucklewood, Astwood, Worcester admitted failing to make her son regularly attend the Bilford Road school between March and July this year.

Rob Macrory, in mitigation, said Brookes was a very “nervous and upset lady” due to the situation, and asked for the chance of a community order.

Judge Goodman gave Brookes a 12 week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay £250 costs.

He said: “It is very clear. Your son has saved you from prison today by writing this letter. But you have to make sure that he goes to school. It is no use saying that you have done because he hasn’t been there.”

As previously reported in your Worcester News in October, 2007, Brookes was given a six-week jail term for allowing Joshua to miss 142 days of school.

The school, which in September became Tudor Grange Academy, Worcester and is no longer under the control of Worcestershire County Council, were unavailable to comment at the time of going to press.