A MOTHER who failed to ensure her son attended school has had a curfew imposed on her.

Linda Davison, 40, had the curfew imposed on her when she appeared at Consett Magistrates' Court, County Durham yesterday.

The order means she must remain in her home in Congburn View, Pelton Fell, Chester-le-Street, from 9pm to 7am for the next month.

If Davison fails to remain indoors, she can be arrested.

Chairman of the bench Wendy Clark said she would be allowed out after the hours of her curfew to attend a family party on September 28.

She was also sentenced to a 12-month supervision order after she admitted failing to ensure her child attended school.

The court heard that between September 5, last year, and January 24, her 12-year-old son Mark had attended 76 out of a possible 170 sessions, at Roseberry Comprehensive School.

Jodie Cowie, prosecuting for Durham County Council, said: "During the period in question Durham County Council carried out all of the formal attendance procedures including letters home, phone calls, offer of help and support and referral to the anti-bullying service.

"None of these strategies resulted in an improvement in Mark's attendance."

Previous hearings have revealed that Mark was suffering at the hands of bullies and would make up illnesses to avoid going to school.

Davison has been convicted of the offence twice before.

She was fined £250 on March 13 last year and fined £200 and given a six-month community order on October 4.

Suzanne Hanson, mitigating, said Davison was trying to encourage Mark to go to school.

She said: "She is trying a system where Mark is rewarded in the evening for his attendance."

The council asked for £714 in costs, but the court heard Davison still owed almost £400.

She was ordered to pay £100 towards the cost of bringing the case before magistrates.

Mrs Clark said: "We hope that we will not be seeing you in front of us again and that Mark will continue his new-found ways of going to school."

Davison declined the opportunity to comment after the case.