A 39-YEAR-OLD Poole mother has become the first parent in Dorset or Hampshire to be jailed for failing to send her child to school.

Tracey Manyweathers, of Arne Avenue, was sent to prison for 60 days after she admitted failing to send her daughter Charlene to Rossmore Community College between January 27 and May 16 last year.

East Dorset magistrates, sitting at Bournemouth, heard on April 27 how Charlene Manyweathers, who is now 16, had attended only 56 of 169 half-day school sessions.

Her mother also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to bail on March 31 last year and breaching a 200-hour community punishment order imposed on March 28 last year for three offences of failing to send Charlene to school.

Prosecuting on behalf of the Borough of Poole, Louise Redfern said: "Professional efforts to help Mrs Manyweathers have been massive and exhausting.

"She has failed to ensure any contact with the school or education welfare service and been totally unco-operative.

"There has been continuous involvement by the education welfare department but little or no improvement. Several home visits were made to Mrs Manyweathers because her child was continuing to fail to attend school.

"On one occasion the child was found to be upstairs in her mother's bed after Mrs Manyweathers said she had dropped her off at school.

"There have been countless meetings which she has not attended and countless letters have been sent but none were ever replied to.

"Since last September, Charlene has attended school on just one day and she will be leaving school this July with no qualifications whatsoever."

The court heard how Manyweathers had seven similar previous convictions dating back to 2000 when her daughter was just 12.

Defending Manyweathers, Andrew Dixon said "the fundamental problem" was Charlene's refusal to go to school.

"She is a late adolescent who, in a sense, can't be made to go to school. It is very difficult for a parent to do anything physically about it," he added.

"There has been a great deal of conflict and bitter arguments."

Jailing Manyweathers for 60 days, Deputy District Judge Nigel Hodkinson said the case "was probably as bad as you could get".

He added: "It appears to be collusion and conspiracy between you and your daughter as to whether she attends school.

"I do not accept that you couldn't get her there or that the fault is hers. The fault must be yours.

"It is clearly very depressing that a child can leave school with no qualifications. The damage has been done."

Manyweathers showed no emotion as she was handcuffed and led down to the cells.

First published: April 28