‘I DON’T CARE’: WHAT SON TOLD HIS MUM WHEN SHE SAID SHE’D GO TO PRISON IF HE DIDN’T GO TO SCHOOL
Woman in court over teenager’s truancy
A MUM has been spared jail – after her teenage son failed to go to school for months.
The boy – who is due to sit his GCSES – had not gone to St Peter’s Academy, in Fenton, between September, 2021 and February, 2022.
Mum Zlatica Horvathova has a previous conviction for non-school attendance – and was hauled back before North Staffordshire Justice Centre for this case. She has been convicted of failing to ensure her son attended the school regularly.
Tracey Middleweek, prosecuting on behalf of Stoke on Trent City Council, told the court: “He has not attended school on a regular basis throughout his secondary education. He should be preparing for his GCSES and has had almost zero attendance through key stage four.
“It is likely that this will seriously impact any GCSE qualifications
– if he is able to sit his exams at all. We have serious concerns about lack of attendance, lack of qualifications, and the impact on him post-16.”
Horvathova, aged 35, arrived in the UK in 2008 and is currently living with a relative in Spring Road, Normacot. She is currently jobless and unable to claim unemployment benefit.
The defendant followed the court proceedings via an interpreter.
A probation service report read out in court stated: “She accepts that she is the mother of the child and bears responsibility for him. However, she asserts that her now ex-partner and father of the child should have taken responsibility.
“She indicates she suffers from panic attacks and depression and has approached her GP for this. I discussed the possibility of a mental health treatment programme but she has declined the offer of a referral.
“She has shown immense concern around the prospect of a custodial sentence. She resides in temporary accommodation so is not suitable for electronic monitoring.”
Tac Hussain, mitigating, said: “Ms Horvathova has struggled with her son immensely and he is bigger than her. She tells me she has encouraged her son to go to school and he simply does not listen. I have told him ‘if you don’t go to school your mum is going to prison’. His response was ‘I don’t care’.”
Magistrates slapped Horvathova with a 12-month community order. It includes 15 rehabilitation requirement days and 100 hours’ unpaid work.
Magistrate Paul Veal said: “This is the second time that you have been in court for a similar offence. The court could easily say it has gone past the custodial threshold and could sentence you to custody for up to three months. We seriously considered sending you into custody for two months. However we have decided to impose a community order.”