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Mother jailed for letting daughter play truant because she had 'a bad hair day'
Last updated at 00:22am on 21.11.07A mother who let her teenage daughter skip school if she was having a 'bad hair day' or could not find her PE kit was jailed.
Dawn Joyce, 40, also allowed 14-year- old Carrie-Ann to stay at home if she needed to tidy her bedroom, had cat hair on her trousers, was too tired - or had dyed her hair and did not like the colour.
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Dawn Joyce: 'This is making my life hell,' she told the court
In addition, Wolverhampton magistrates heard, Carrie-Ann did not like going to school on Mondays.
In all, the girl missed more than 90 days' worth of lessons at The King's School in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, over a 20-week period earlier this year.
Her mother was jailed for two weeks after the court was told it was the only way of making the pair realise they had to change their ways.
Tracey Christie, for Wolverhampton council, said: "All attempts to try and get this child into school have failed and all help offered by the local authority has failed.
"The reasons the daughter gave for not attending included cat hair on her trousers, dyeing her hair and not liking it, being tired and not wanting to attend on Mondays.
"Attempts were made to agree a modified timetable, but that failed too. The attempts made to get the pupil back to school were undermined."
Joyce, of Pendeford, Wolverhampton, said her daughter had been "scheming" to avoid school, even hiding her uniform and shoes.
"I have done all I can to try and get my daughter to school, but there are a million reasons she gives as to why she can't go," she added.
"It is making my life hell. I've been on anti-depressants and don't think I can do much more."
However, after a trial she was found guilty of failing to ensure Carrie-Ann's regular attendance at school and jailed for two weeks.
In June last year she was convicted of a lesser offence relating to Carrie-Ann's truancy and fined £100.
District Judge Shamim Qureshi described the case as one of "the worst aspects of society breakdown" to come before the courts and said prison might make the family realise things had to change.
"A lot of the blame falls on your daughter," he told Joyce.
"It should not have got this far."
Last night, it appeared that seeing her mother jailed as a result of her truancy was not going to make Carrie-Ann change her ways.
She did not go to school yesterday and spent the afternoon shopping.
"Of course I feel bad about this whole thing,' said Carrie-Ann, who is staying with her 19-year-old sister, Amy.
"I don't want to put mum through this, but I just don't want to go to school."
The serial truant said she had been unhappy at school and claimed she had been threatened by teachers - allegations which they deny.
Education welfare officers met her again yesterday in another attempt to get her to return to school.
Christine Irvine, the city council's cabinet member for schools, said: "This is the mother's second conviction for failing to ensure her daughter is educated and we very much hope that this time there will be an immediate improvement."
The King's School has the fourth lowest GCSE results in Wolverhampton although its truancy rate is well below the national average.
Reader views (3)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
A child like this couldn't be controlled. Let alone when she becomes a grownup.
Hence, i would say the education system is a failure.
- Martin, Singapore
Good, maybe she will be more responsible next time, she is meant to be a parent first and friend second.
- John, Dundee, UK
And the point of sending the mother to jail is?
So now with no mother at home there's even less likelyhood that the daughter will attend school. Perhaps if the social services identify the underlying reasons why she won't attend school then the situation could have been resolved. Maybe instead of jailing the mother, the child should have been sent to a young offenders institution which would no doubt have focused her mind somewhat.
- Adam, Harrow, Uk
