Mother Prosecuted For Keeping Daughter Home From School Over Cancer Fears

Mother Prosecuted For Keeping Daughter Off School Over Cancer Fears

A woman who kept her daughter off school over fears her cancer had returned is reportedly being prosecuted for not sending her to classes.

Kerry Capper said she wanted to keep a close eye on seven-year-old Libby Bennett at home when she fell ill, because the youngster had developed similar symptoms when battling the disease.

However, the unemployed mother has now been summoned to appear before magistrates for failing to pay a £60 penalty fine, after Libby missed seven days of school earlier this year.

Kerry Capper said she kept her daughter home for fear her she was showing symptoms of cancer

Ms Capper, from Erdington in Birmingham, told the BBC she felt "really scared" when her daughter told her she had stomach pains, because Libby had suffered a tumour on her kidneys.

Libby still has to see doctors at Birmingham Children's Hospital to monitor her progress.

Birmingham City Council said Libby's mother never gave staff at Paget Primary School a reason for her absences, and then failed to attend a meeting to discuss the issue.

Ms Capper said: "Libby has woken up saying she's got a sore stomach and I get scared.

"When she does say she's not very well, I want to keep my eye on her and keep her off school on those days.

"They've sent me to court because of it."

She added: "They should give consideration for what I went through as a mother.

"When she does say she's ill I get really scared because we did nearly lose her."

Libby said: "She doesn't let me have days off when I'm not ill - when I'm ill she gets worried."

The council has said it takes a "robust stance" on school absence, and had previously invited Ms Capper to meetings to discuss the issues.

A city council spokesman said: "When there was still no response, a penalty notice was issued and when this was not paid the matter was sent to magistrates."

Ms Capper is set to appear in court next month.

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