Magistrate gags Advertiser naming parents whose children have 'appalling' attendance

Mr Stephen Walker, chairman of the bench at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, issued an anonymity order covering all of the children and adults involved in one court session - against advice published by the Lord Chief Justice.

Two defendants had caused their daughter to be absent from school 144 times - an attendance Mr Walker described as “appalling”.

Most of the parents - the majority of whom did not attend court - had been denied permission to take their children on overseas holidays in term time, but taken them anyway, the court heard.

In some cases, the child’s school attendance dipped below nine days in ten - an average of one unauthorised half-day off every week.

But Mr Walker said that the Press should be barred from naming and shaming the adults to protect their children from bullying by classmates.

The Advertiser challenged the anonymity order in court, but Mr Walker refused to reverse it.

Eight people were prosecuted last Tuesday for failing to ensure regular school attendance and in most cases, the offence was found proved in their absence.

Each was fined £220 and ordered to pay £155 costs plus a £30 victim surcharge.

Guidance from the Lord Chief Justice, the Rt Hon Lord Thomas, says anonymity should be granted on a case-by-case basis and that concerns over the child’s welfare should not automatically win out.

But Mr Walker said, when challenged, that he would always favour the child’s welfare in such cases.

The Advertiser is awaiting a further response from the court on the matter.

• NB: A reporting restriction is not always requested by RMBC prosecutors - therefore parents who appear in court when a restriction has not been ordered will be named by the Press.