Couple could face jail for taking children on holiday during term time

A couple from Telford could face jail after taking their three children on an unauthorised holiday during school term time and refusing to pay the subsequent fine.

Stewart and Natasha Sutherland were initially given a fine of £360, that they refused to pay, which then doubled to £720 after 21 days.

Under the new guidelines introduced last year, any parent that knows their "child is failing to attend regularly at the school and fails without reasonable justification to cause him to do so" is liable on conviction to:

• A fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (up to £2,500)
• Imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months