Parents jailed for daughter's truancy

A 14-year-old girl has been taken into foster care after her parents were jailed because of her truancy.

Christopher and Deborah Haine were jailed for four months after their daughter, Shlaine, attended Hartridge High School in Newport, south Wales, for the equivalent of only six days over seven months. The couple were told in court that they had shown a "complete disregard" to Shlaine's school attendance.

Anthony Harris, chairman of the bench at Newport magistrates' court, said the couple had shown "nothing but contempt" for the two-month suspended sentence imposed on them in January for a similar offence. He activated that sentence yesterday and added a further two months.

They had both pleaded guilty at a hearing on 18 July to a breach of the 1996 Education Act regarding their daughter's non attendance.

Tristan Clappe, for the defence, said: "Mr Haine tried to drag her to school, but somebody rang social services and the police." He said they were faced with a teenager who wouldn't listen.

The Haines, both aged 41, were first prosecuted in 2002 for failing to ensure that Shlaine and their son Caine attended school.