THE case against a mother who allowed her son to play truant has been adjourned for a third time because she is too ill to attend court.

Magistrates warned that if Linda Davison failed to appear at the next hearing, a warrant would be issued unless there were more specific details about her medical condition.

The court was told that Mrs Davison had been seen at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday at a case in which she was not involved - and magistrates said if she could get to the doctor for a certificate and was able to go to court, she was mobile.

Mrs Davison of Congburn View, Pelton Fell, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has admitted failing to ensure her 11-year-old attended school.

The 40-year-old pleaded guilty by letter at Durham Magistrates' Court. In the letter to the court, she said her son was being bullied. Allowing a child to miss school without cause carries a maximum three-month jail term and Mrs Davison must be in court when sentenced.

Mrs Davison admitted failing to ensure her children attended school and was fined £250 when she appeared before magistrates for the first time on March 13 last year.

On October 5, last year, she appeared before the court again, and the magistrates were told she had repeatedly ignored warnings from education officials about sending her children to school.

The case was adjourned to June 1.