The boy has apologised for missing school

The 35-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was imprisoned for 28 days on Monday.

She is currently being held at a women's prison in the west of England, but was due to attend the hearing at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday.

Judge John Diehl said the 28 day-term was the correct punishment.

He added that truancy did not only affect children's education but presented a problem for society as a whole as it could lead to anti-social and criminal behaviour.

The jailed woman's son has since apologised for his absence and promised to return to school if his mother is allowed home.

The woman is believed to be the first parent in Wales to be imprisoned under tough new rules to tackle truants.

I'll go every day if she comes back - that's a promise Teenage truant

Her son had failed to attend any lessons at his comprehensive in Llanelli for three months.

The teenager's father said he and his ex-wife had been taking him to school only for him to leave by another door.

"I am very sorry and sad it is all my fault," said the boy.

"My mother has gone to prison and I am the one not going to school.

"I just want her to come back - it is not her fault - she is not a criminal.

"I have never really liked school, but I'll go every day if she comes back - that's a promise," he added.

Council efforts

Officers from Carmarthenshire County Council, which brought the action against the woman, met the boy on Wednesday.

The council has been criticised by the family because they believe there should have been expert help available for the boy after the jailing.

Patricia Amos was jailed for 60 days last year

His father has accused officials of failing to arrange proper care for his son during the prison sentence.

But the council said it had contacted the boy's grandmother and aunt in order to arrange care.

On Monday, the council said it had made repeated efforts to help the woman - all to no avail.

She had, in fact, appeared in court several times before because of her son's absences from school.

The prosecution comes just a week after a mother from Cambridge was given a six-week sentence for failing to send her 16-year-old son to school.

And in May last year, 43-year-old Patricia Amos from Oxfordshire, was jailed for 60 days after she failed to stop her children playing truant.