Parents who failed to ensure their son attended school regularly have said he was threatened with a knife by youths in the community and feared for his life.

The teenager had said he would rather die than go to school, and was referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs), North Staffordshire magistrates heard on Monday (April 7).

He lived more than three miles from the school, the court was told. The alleged bullying he had faced had not taken place at school however.

Rebecca Reaney, prosecuting on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said that between February 28 and June 18 2024 he attended school on just 31 occasions out of 126. "There has been previous extensive involvement with the education welfare team with this family", she added.

"(The mother) said (the boy) had mental health problems and anger issues. A GP appointment had been made for March 21 and they were going to seek help for him.

"They spoke of him struggling with depression over the past year and he was having issues with a group of people from the Shelton community who were ex-pupils of the school. It had affected his mental health and he felt unsafe in the community.

"It was explained he was of compulsory school age. It was suggested he get in touch with Stay Well (a wellbeing service for under 18s) about anger management.

"On April 22 there was a home visit. He had been to his GP and they were sending him to therapy. He said he had been getting bullied when he had been out in the community and he had been attacked and was scared for his life.

"He said a knife was pulled on him but the police were not informed because he didn't know who the people were and didn't want any repercussions. He was advised to inform the police.

"He said he was not going back to school and would rather die than go to school. He said he does not leave the house and only felt safe where he lives."

Although the boy had been referred to Camhs, he did not engage with the service, the court heard. His school absence meant he missed some of his GCSE exams, and he has now left school and is reluctant to carry on studying at college.

Magistrate Philip Taylor questioned why the family did not contact police. He also asked: "Why didn't you access further resources to help your son with his mental health?

Speaking through an interpreter, the boy's parents said: "We were not able to take him for a further assessment because he refused to go. He didn't want to be thought of as a crazy person.

"He was being threatened by 10 to 15 youths that they would cut him with knives. He was crying at home, smashing things and saying he would not go to school."

The parents were each fined £550. They were also ordered to pay £120 surcharge and £130 prosecution costs each.

--------

READ: College launches global esports tournament with €5k prize

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.