East Lancashire parents fined £2,300 in truancy crackdown (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire parents fined £2,300 in truancy crackdown

12:30pm Tuesday 1st May 2012 in Rossendale By Peter Magill , Chief reporter

A FRESH crackdown on truants in East Lancashire has left no fewer than eight parents facing bills for fines and costs totalling more than £2,300.

Lancashire County Council education chiefs have mounted prosecutions at Reedley Magistrates Court over unauthorised absences for five youngsters.

The parents who were punished were ...

Stephen Marsh and Lorraine Kenyon, both 46, of Hardman Avenue, Rawtenstall, each admitted failing to ensure their daughter Rosie Elizabeth Marsh attended Alder Grange Community and Technology College.

The pair were each conditionally discharged for six months with £50 costs and a £15 victim surcharge by magistrates.

Sheena Duckworth, 38, of Holland Avenue, Rawtenstall, and Michael Smith, 41, of Queens House, Rawtenstall, were convicted by magistrates after their daughter Alanna Jane Smith, 14, also persistently failed to attend Alder Grange.

Each was fined £525, with £100 costs to the education authority and a £15 victim surcharge, after the pair failed to attend court.

And Peter Swain, 46, of Pennine Road, Bacup, was similarly convicted over his daughter Rebecca Swain’s non-attendance at Fearns Community College. He was also fined £525 with £100 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Earlier this month Muhammed Rauf, 34, of Ashford Street, Nelson, was convicted of a similar offence over absences involving his 10-year-old daughter Aisha Muhammed at Walverden Primary. He was fined £30 with £50 costs.

And Imran Mirza, 44, and Tahira Mirza, 42, of Parrock Road, Barrowford, were fined £135 and £45 respectively, with £45 costs each, after being found guilty in their absence of failing to ensure the attendance of their 10-year-old child Fatima Zarah at Lomeshaye Juniors.