Father Who Took Daughter On Holiday During Term Time Convicted

Jon Platt, a father who fought a long battle over taking his daughter on holiday during term time, has been found guilty, the BBC reports.

Platt lost his the legal battle at the Supreme Court in April, and has been found guilty of failing to secure his child's regular attendance.

According to BBC News, the father has been ordered to pay £2,000 in costs, as well as a 12-month conditional discharge.

Initially the father won earlier legal challenges in a case brought by Isle of Wight Council, when he was ordered to pay a £120 fine for taking his daughter on an unauthorised trip.

Jon Platt arrives at the Supreme Court in central London with his wife Sally. Credit: PA

"It's completely vague. It does not give the guidance that parents are entitled to expect," he said.

Platt had previously argued that no documents from the council or school had stated clearly the rules on absences, or when a penalty notice would be given.

The forms allegedly said that that attendance of between 90 and 95 percent was satisfactory, which is what the child fell into for their trip to Disney World Florida in 2015.

Ben Rich, counsel for Isle of Wight Council, told Platt that it was not necessary for the documents to spell out every consequence of any action.

Credit: PA

"This is the end for me now, this has gone on for far too long and far too much money has been spent by me and the taxpayer," Platt said, following the case. "I've spent close to £30,000, a Freedom of Information request found £140,000 has been spent by the taxpayer, but if you include the Supreme Court legal costs I think it isn't far off a quarter of a million.

"Way too much money has been spent but I'm not going to appeal it. I don't agree with the magistrates' decision but I'm going to respect it.

"I'm sure there's parents out there that hate me and I'm sure there's some who think I'm a hero. But at the end of the day, I turned up to court to say 'not guilty' to an offence I'm not guilty of. But I will respect their decision and not appeal it."

The case reportedly cost taxpayers £140,000 when it started two years ago, with the Department for Education footing the bill, which is enough to pay six teachers for a year.

Source: BBC

Topics: Holiday

Mark McGowan

Mark is a journalist at LADbible, who joined in 2015 after a year as a freelance writer. In the past he blogged for independent football fan channel Redmen TV, after graduating from Staffordshire University with degrees in journalism and English literature. He has worked on campaigns such as UOKM8? and IIOC.