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Angry Dad Pays £60 School Fine In One And Two Pence Pieces

Angry Dad Pays £60 School Fine In One And Two Pence Pieces

He was fined for taking his son out of school during term time.

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A dad who was fined £60 for taking his son on holiday during term time paid the fine using a bucket of one and two pence pieces.

Paddy Forbes didn't have permission from the school's head teacher when he took his six-year-old son Tommy-Lee out of school for a week, to go on a trip to Egypt in February this year.

He was given a fine of £60, and turned up at Swansea Civic Centre on Friday to pay it.

In the video Paddy can be seen bold as brass at the centre with his bucket, which must weigh a tonne, and pouring the coins out onto the counter, saying: "That's lovely, here we are," before apologising for being a pain.


Credit: Mercury Press

Paddy said: "As far as I'm concerned, that's it paid. They asked for £60 and they got £60.

"It's a ridiculous rule designed to punish working-class families anyway. I can't afford to take everyone away during half-term.

"I came into a bit of money at the time and we may not have got another chance to go to somewhere like Egypt.

"I told the school in advance that I would be taking Tommy-Lee but of course I knew they would fine me anyway. I just took it on the chin.

"Where is he going to learn more about the world? Sitting in a classroom in Swansea or at an Egyptian temple?

Credit: Mercury Press

"He was so excited to be in Egypt and I wouldn't have wanted to deny him that opportunity."

Paddy was quick to point out that it was nothing against the staff at the Civic Centre, and that he 'wouldn't be surprised' if the council got in touch because of how he chose to pay. "There was no mention of how I had to pay, so in my opinion it's settled," he said.

"I was polite to the woman there and like I said, all the money was there.

"I actually ordered all the coppers from the post office and had to wait about a week to get them."

However, he may have a point about the council getting in touch, because technically, it wouldn't need to accept this payment. According to the Royal Mint, 1p coins are only legal tender up to 20p, same for 2p coins.

Paddy isn't the first dad to be landed with a fine for taking his kid out of school during term time. Earlier this year, Jon Platt was fined for taking his daughter out of school to go to Disney World - he refused to pay and it was decided by magistrates that he had 'no case to answer'.

It didn't end there, though. The local authority then took Jon to the High Court, where the magistrate's decision was upheld, before finally taking him to the Supreme Court where he lost his case.

Featured Image Credit: Mercury Press