A WIDOW struggling to bring up the youngest of five children claims the public humiliation of her courtroom fine for her son's refusal to attend school was "unfair and futile".

Mrs Rita Potter, 51, of St Helens Road, Bolton, appeared in Bolton Magistrates Court on Monday and admitted failing to ensure her son, Terry, 15, attended Deane School.

As reported in the BEN, the teenager was ordered into the courtroom by magistrates to see his mother fined £50 and ordered to pay £50 costs.

But afterwards, Mrs Potter said the whole experience had come three years too late.

She explained: "I have done everything I can to make him go to school.

"If action had been taken when Terry was 12 or 13 the courtroom might have frightened him. As it is I could have been fined £5,000 and it would not have made any true impression on him.

"It has gone no way to solving the situation."

It was the first time Mrs Potter had ever appeared in a court, and she says the whole experience left her "devastated".

She said: "I felt like a child stood there. It was only when we arrived in court that I realised it was me not Terry that was up before the magistrates.

"I feel as though my treatment has been unfair. They obviously want the best for Terry's future but putting me in front of the court and fining me is not the answer."

Mrs Potter, who works full-time, even gave up work at one point to make sure Terry went into school each day.

She delivered him by taxi to the school for a short period. But when it became apparent her ploy was not working, she decided to find herself another job.

Terry is the youngest of her five children. None of the other four ever had a problem with school attendance.

Died

However, the teenager was only nine when his father died. Mrs Potter said: "When his dad died, I used to give him his own way, thinking it was for the best. But in hindsight it was the wrong thing to do.

"Terry is not a bad lad, but school has passed him by. The problem began in his first year at Deane School.

"He came home each day, upset saying he was being bullied on the bus home. There would be fighting, and lads laughing at him, so he developed this dislike at having to go to school.

"Social workers became aware of the situation, but it got worse. Perhaps if he had been younger when called into court the experience would have intimidated him.

"But he is now 15, almost a man. He's a big lad, and just wants to work.

"I am powerless to make him go to school, I can shout and scream at him but he won't listen.

"He will be 16 in October and due to leave the following summer."

Terry now hopes to be able to get into a job scheme in which he will be able to go to work, but without pay.

Mrs Potter said: "I think that would be best.

"When we were due to appear in court I told him I thought it pointless to lie and tell everyone he would go back into school the following day, when we both knew he wouldn't.

"It is illegal for him to receive payment for a job at his age, so this scheme would be ideal."

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