The truant teenager apologised and asked for his mother to be released

A truant whose failure to show at school earned his mother a jail sentence has returned to class.

The boy, 14, failed to attend lessons in Llanelli, forcing the local education authority to prosecute his mother, who was jailed for 12 days.

It was the first time a guardian in Wales had been subjected to a new fast-track process designed to punish parents for their children's truancy.

But, after meeting the boy's father on Monday, Carmarthenshire County Council resolved the dispute, confirming he would return to school.

On Tuesday, an education welfare officer from Carmarthenshire County Council attended the school to ensure the boy felt comfortable.

He realises what he has done, I don't think he will play truant any more - it has brought it home to him Boy's father

Tests are now being carried out to assess his needs before a plan is put together for him.

Neither the boy nor his parents can be named to protect his identity due to his age.

"We have received assurances that the boy will continue to attend school," said education welfare officer Charles Thomas.

"We will continue to work with the boy and his family and will offer every support available."

'Harsh'

The teenager had not attended his comprehensive in Llanelli for three months and his mother was taken to court eight times.

The woman was jailed by magistrates in Llanelli and handed a 28-day prison term earlier this month. She was freed on Monday after serving 12 days.

She went to stay with relatives to "avoid fuss" and to recover from stress, according to county education chiefs who picked her up.

Her ex-husband - the boy's father - said the punishment was "harsh".

Carmarthenshire Council is trying to cut the number of truants

"I can't see how this has helped her one bit," he said.

"It's totally unjustified and I think public opinion is totally on our side."

He added his son had shown remorse and was determined to attend school regularly.

"He realises what he has done, I don't think he will play truant any more," he said.

"It has brought it home to him - he's had a shock," he added.

Numbers

There have been around 20 prosecutions across Carmarthenshire for truancy in 2003.

Under laws introduced in 2000, penalties for persistent truancy were increased to a maximum fine of �2,500 or a jail term of three months.

A few parents had been jailed in England, before the Llanelli woman became the first parent to be imprisoned under the new legislation in Wales.