A DISTRAUGHT mother has vowed to get professional help after being punished for failing to send her teenage son to school.

Diane Underhill was too embarrassed to take up the parent counselling Dyson Perrins CE High School offered her when Gareth Hitchings started playing truant last year.

But yesterday, she told Worcester magistrates that she was at the end of her tether with the 16-year-old. He has attended school just 18 days out of 190 between Monday, September 9 and Monday, February 24.

Charged with failing to ensure Gareth attended the Malvern school, she said she had spent months pleading, threatening and even bribing her son, who is old enough to leave school in June.

"I have done everything I can think of," said Miss Underhill, who was fined £200 last June for the same offence. "He just doesn't want to go to school and I can't force or coerce him into going.

"I don't know what to do any more."

The 37-year-old said her son maintained "they didn't like him" at Dyson Perrins and he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

She also said he "didn't seem bothered" that she had been brought before the court because of him.

"He spends most of his time in his room watching TV and playing on the computer," she said.

"I was a bit embarrassed about being told I needed parenting classes, but I will take them up now."

Richard Jones, prosecuting on behalf of Worcestershire County Council's education welfare service, said of the 172 days Gareth did not attend, 162 were unauthorised.

One medical note was received from Miss Underhill, of Shaw Walk, Malvern, during this time.

"Teachers and welfare officers made efforts to meet her and on Monday, September 16 she was given information about counselling and support within the school," he said.

"But things got no better and in November she was sent a final warning letter.

Legal action was suspended, however, when it became clear Gareth had medical problems.

But his doctor maintained there was no reason why he should not attend a full-time, mainstream school and a part-time timetable was drawn up in January to re-integrate him.

Things went well for the next few weeks but after that, he only turned up for four classes, three of which he was late for.

Magistrates warned Miss Underhill she could face prison if she appeared in court again and "strongly" urged her to take up the courses offered to her.

She was fined another £200.