A Worcester father will be in prison for Christmas after magistrates jailed him for 90 days for failing to ensure the regular school attendance of three of his four children.

Worcestershire County Council's Education Welfare service told magistrates that one of Marc Barnes' children could have attended 146 sessions at Blessed Edward Oldcorne RC School in Timberdine Avenue between November 3, 2003 and March 5, 2004.

The child only attended on 74 occasions, while another only attended on 59 occasions during the same period and a third, during a period from September 3 to December 5, 2003 could have attended 126 sessions at Cherry Orchard Primary School in Timberdine Close, but was present for only 35.

For each child, Barnes, 42, from East Street in the Arboretum, was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment to be served consecutively.

He was also sentenced to 30 days imprisonment for breach of conditional discharge and 10 days each for two counts of failing to surrender to bail, all to run concurrently. He pleaded guilty to all charges.

Education Welfare had attempted to help Barnes.