Mum's court plea over son's truancy rejected

Feb 19 2007 By Patrice John, Birmingham Mail

A MIDLAND mum has lost her appeal against a conviction for failing to send her son to school.

Mandy Rawlinson was convicted in October 2006 of not sending her 15-year-old son Xavier to classes.

But yesterday at a Crown Court hearing at The Waterfront, Brierley Hill, she lost her application to overturn the decision that led to her receiving an 80-hour community order and a 12-month supervision order.

The 41 year-old, of The Moorings, Oldbury, said: "The decision was upheld and I am pretty gutted about it.

"I have never been in trouble in my life and now I have a criminal record.

"Xavier is not bothered. He has told me he will not go to school. He is adamant he will not got to school, even though he has seen me go through all of this.

"When I went to court the first time I showed them that I had done everything I could, but they still have not overturned the decision."

Mandy appealed against her conviction after being prosecuted by Sandwell Council.

She could have been jailed for the offence but escaped with a community order and supervision order instead.

However she claimed that ill-health had hindered her from participating fully in the community order.

"I have been sick and have been giving the probation service sick forms but they are still hassling me as well," she said.

She was prosecuted when Xavier failed to attend Tivi-dale High School in September and October, 2005.

But Ms Rawlinson said her son was now taller than her and she could not physically drag him to classes.

Ms Rawlinson also said that since her son will be 16 in March, school was 'out of the question' but she hoped he would still have a bright future.

"I think school is out of the equation now," she said. "Xavier is a bright boy and very clever but I think he will just try to get a job when he can and go to college when he is 17 or 18-years-old. I am hoping that he can do something with his life."

No-one at Sandwell Council was immediately available for comment.