A single mother from Doncaster has been left furious after being handed a criminal record and a suspended sentence for taking her daughter out of school to visit her sick grandmother in Turkey. Kay Harper, 51, a transport planner who previously worked in Afghanistan supporting British troops, was found guilty of unauthorised school absence and given a 12-month suspended sentence, along with a £170 fine.
The Background
Kay's daughter Sahara, 10, was born in Turkey and moved to the UK at age one. She had not seen her father or grandmother since. In September 2023, Kay received a call from Sahara's father Serkan, informing her that his mother had cancer and diabetes and was desperate to see her granddaughter. Kay submitted a holiday request form to the school 20 days before the trip, but received no response until after she returned home, when a letter arrived stating the holiday was not authorised.
Legal Consequences
Kay refused to pay an £80 fine on principle, arguing exceptional circumstances. She was subsequently taken to court, where she represented herself. In December 2024, she was found guilty and received a 12-month suspended sentence. Kay expressed shock at the severity, comparing it to sentences for drug dealers. She said, 'I’ve been treated like a criminal. Drug dealers often get a six-month suspended sentence. How is that fair?'
Impact on Family
Kay stated the experience has been 'daunting and scary,' affecting her credit rating and causing anxiety. Sahara's father Serkan criticised the lack of empathy, calling the criminal record 'absurd' and emphasising that the visit was a humanitarian necessity, not a holiday.
A Department for Education spokesperson defended the policy, stating that term-time holidays affect the entire class and that fines are vital for accountability. However, Kay remains adamant that she was made an example of, saying, 'I served my country in Afghanistan only to be let down by my own country.'
