A WOMAN who was threatened with jail for her son's truancy has been given two 12-month community rehabilitation orders.

The Abbeydale woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given one order for her 14-year-old son's truancy and was given the second for breaching a 12-month conditional discharge she was given last year for the same offence. The orders will run concurrently

At her last court appearance, before sentencing, magistrates said her offence was so serious she could face months in jail or a large fine.

Senior education welfare officer Richard Jones, said: "From January 8 to Feburary 12, her son attended just 11 sessions out of 52 and he was late for 10 of these.

"It got to the point where his school wouldn't accept any more excuses for absence unless they received medical evidence.

"At this time there was very little co-operation from the mother but this has increased and she is going to attend a meeting to discuss the issues further."

Defence solicitor David Sheppard said: "This lady accepts there was a time when she wasn't encouraging her son to go to school after the break-up of her marriage.

"He also missed school for genuine reasons when he fell off a moped and hurt his leg, had other medical problems and his grandmother died.

"But sometimes, when his mum believed he was attending school, he was actually going in one door and out the other.

"After his mother was threatened with jail, he became very distressed and although his attendance did not improve at that time, he has since said he will attend school all the time."

The woman was also asked to pay £50 costs and magistrates recommended she attend parenting lessons.