Truant's father in court

Mr Standford denies failing to secure his son's school attendance

The father of a truant who said he would rather be sent to jail than make his bullied son go to school, appeared in court on Monday.

Gary Standford is being prosecuted by the local education authority because his 16-year-old son has not been going to school.

Mr Standford of Garden Road, Tunbridge Wells, denied failing to secure his son's attendance at Tunbridge Wells High School between June and October 2003.

The 43-year-old has claimed his son, Darren, has been the target of persistent bullying.

The teenager was willing to go to a nearby college to carry on studying, his father said.

At the hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court, Mr Standford's solicitor requested the case be adjourned so a medical report could be prepared.

The next hearing will be a pre-trial review on 19 December.