THE father of two teenage girls who attended just one third of school sessions for months has been warned not to deprive them of a "chance in life".

Edward Nunn's daughters Leanne, aged 16, and 14-year-old Stacey failed to go to Stourport High School regularly between October and January and November and January respectively, Kidderminster magistrates heard.

Leanne turned up to just 22 of 114 morning and afternoon sessions - with 70 unauthorised absences - while Stacey made only 43 out of 74 sessions with 23 unauthorised absences.

The court heard a Worcestershire County Council education officer's statement describe how Leanne would frequently "turn up in jeans knowing full well jeans aren't allowed" so she would be sent home.

Nunn, 39, of Worcester Road, Stourport - who has two other children - pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the pair attended school regularly.

He told magistrates he had split up with the children's mother and he had been "travelling the road" over the period.

But Nunn added: "We're getting back together, slowly, and the children have been going to school regularly ever since I had the summons."

Maximum

The chairman of the bench Michael Gough warned him: "Your children need that education. If you deprive them of going to school you are depriving them of a chance in life."

He was fined £150 and ordered to pay £50 costs, well short of the maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine.

The parents of a six-year-old boy who went to less than one third of sessions at Stourport First School over three months were fined £270 and ordered to pay £50 costs after pleading guilty to the same offence.

Magistrates heard how Angelina and Anthony Jones' son William went to just 28 out of 96 sessions between October and January and was absent without good reason for 58 sessions.

A statement signed by a senior education officer said William was "happy and settled" when he was at school but added the school's headteacher was worried his repeated absence would harm his development.

Mrs Jones, 34, of Watery Lane, Stourport, told magistrates she had had to support her brother who lost his wife in October.