FOUR Newport parents were yesterday fined in their absence for failing to send their children to school regularly.

Samantha Davis, of Acacia Avenue, was fined £350 for failing to send her son to school.

He only turned up to Hartridge High School, four times out of a possible 167 school days between August 2009 and January 2010, Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court heard.

Gina Hayman, of Beechcroft Road, pleaded guilty by post, for failing to send her daughter to St Julians Primary School, between September 2009 and January this year. She only went on 88 occasions out of a possible 172.

Hayman was fined £35.

Samantha and Derek Symonds, of Mendalgief Road, pleaded guilty by post after their son failed to regularly attend Duffryn High School between October 2009 and January 2010.

His attendance rate during this time was 71 percent.

Samantha Symonds was given an absolute discharge, while Derek Symonds was fined £35.

Phillip Williams, of Sickert Close, was fined £175 for failing to ensure his son attended St Julians Primary School regularly between August 2009 and this January.

He only went 84 times out of 172 days.

None of the parents attended court yesterday.

Prosecuting on behalf of Newport City Council, Richard O’Sullivan, told magistrates that education welfare officers had written to and visited parents to address the problem but the children’s poor attendance continued.

As well as their fines, the parents were ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge of £15.