Truant children land mum in court dock

Help given to Ivona Lemska included free English lessons and official letters written in her native Polish, Blackpool Magistrates court was told.

But Lemska was said to have failed to cooperate with a council’s education authority and put herself in danger of being sentenced to prison.

Kemska ,31 of Grosvenor Street, North Shore, pleaded guilty to three offences of failing to ensure a child went to school.

She wept as she was fined £140 with £120 costs and told to pay a £30 victims’ surcharge.

Chairman of the bench David Hearton told her: “The package of support you are getting is exceptional.

“You must co operate or next time you appear before us you might not be going home.”

Nicola Morgan, prosecuting for Blackpool Council, said Kemska ‘s care package included:

• Daily free travel to school for her children

• Free school uniform

• English lessons for Kemska herself

• A personal employment advisor for Kemska

• Basic budgeting help

• Free furniture

• Youth therapy for her children

• Young carers provided to assist Kemska

• One to one work with the youngest daughter

• Chill out cards for the younger daughter which she gives to teachers when she needs a break from classes.

Despite all this help Kemska still failed to end the trio’s truancy. The case concerned separated Kemska’s 16 and 13 year-old daughters and her 11-year-old son who attend the town’s Aspire Academy.

The attendance of the children slumped to as low as 25 per cent in the case of one of the girls.

Education officials had tried repeatedly to help Kemska who has lived in the UK for eight years. She was even sent official letters in her native Polish.

Kemska said: “I have told the children I will go to prison if they do not go to school.”