The woman appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that the woman did not want her 15-year-old son to go back to Bishopbriggs High School because she was "frightened for his safety".

The boy was picked on following an earlier unrelated incident in which he was assaulted.

However, Sheriff Michael O'Grady said there was "no reasonable excuse" to keep him off school and fined her �200.

His personality had changed and I was fearful for my son's safety had he remained there Boy's mother

The woman was taken to court by the education authority, East Dunbartonshire Council.

The court heard that the boy did not attend school between 4 February and 1 May, 2002.

He had been the victim of an assault near his home months previously and as a result his 42 year-old mother said older pupils began taunting him.

This changed to "physical threats" and the boy started to go absent until the school made the family aware of his truancy.

The mother told the court: "He had become timid and said nothing. He did not say anything of what had gone on until we asked."

The school was made aware of the bullying and the mother said she wanted to transfer him to another school.

'Enjoyed school'

However, the woman said that the other school would not accept him at that time as "they were always getting troublemakers".

She decided to keep her son off school completely until she could find somewhere else.

The mother said: "He enjoyed school, but he did not go back because of the threats.

"His personality had changed and I was fearful for my son's safety had he remained there."

She was charged by the council for allowing her son to stay off school for what it called "no reasonable excuse".

The sheriff said the woman should have explored other ways to end the bullying, such as accepting the help of the high school.