Truants' mum back in the cells

The mother jailed for failing to send her children to school was briefly sent back to the cells today.

Patricia Amos, 43, was imprisoned for contempt after she infuriated a judge at Oxford Crown Court by arriving 10 minutes late for a case brought by the Oxfordshire Probation Service.

It was alleged she had breached a community service order in connection with a conviction for theft of a purse.

Amos who hit the headlines when she was the first mother to be jailed for failing to ensure her two children went to school, looked shocked as she was taken to the cells.

But her latest ordeal was short-lived as the judge later relented and allowed Amos bail as long as she stayed within the court precincts. Her case was due to be heard later today.