The parents were punished over irregular school attendance

The couple were sentenced on 16 April for failing to ensure their child's regular attendance at school.

Lewes Magistrates' Court heard the child had attended just 15% of lessons at the East Sussex school between November 2002 and March 2003.

The parents had failed to appear in court 10 times previously.

Parenting Order

They are due to be released from jail on Friday, when they will have served half of their sentence.

In a separate case brought by East Sussex County Council, the parent of a Seaford child was fined �160 and made the subject of a Parenting Order until the end of the year.

The school pupil had attended only 19% of lessons between June and October 2003.

The parent will have to meet the Education Welfare Service on a regular basis and attend sessions to develop parenting skills relating to improving school attendance.

'Child protection'

Neither of the parents can be named for legal reasons.

Jill Muggleton, from the council's education welfare department, said it had made "every effort" with the parents to ensure their children attended school.

"But what we must consider is that when children are not in school, it's possible that neither the school nor the parent knows where they are, so there are serious issues about children who are out of school, and who may be at risk of all sorts of things."

She said it was very much a "child protection issue" and about children being safe in school and learning.