A single mother from Doncaster has been left with a criminal record after taking her daughter out of school to visit her sick grandmother in Turkey. Kay Harper, 51, was found guilty of unauthorised school absence and handed a 12-month conditional discharge, along with costs of £170.
Kay, a transport planner who previously worked in Afghanistan supporting troops, said she was 'treated like a criminal' for the trip in September 2023. Her daughter Sahara, 10, had not seen her father or grandmother in seven years. When Kay learned that Sahara's grandmother had cancer and diabetes, she applied for school holiday leave 20 days in advance.
Despite not receiving a response from the school, Kay was told by a receptionist that silence meant approval. However, a letter denying the request arrived on the day of travel, which Kay only saw upon her return. She refused to pay an £80 fine on principle, arguing exceptional circumstances.
Kay represented herself in court after the school pursued legal action. She was found guilty in December 2024 and said she was 'livid' and 'disgusted' at being branded a criminal. 'Every time a police car goes past, I panic,' she said, adding that the case has affected her credit rating.
Kay criticised the system, saying: 'It's so hypocritical – if they are that worried about attendance, why would they have dropped it if I'd paid the £80 fine?' She described the experience as 'daunting and scary' and said she felt made an example of as a hard-working single mother.
