A DAD who took his son on the trip of a lifetime to India has been fined after failing to get the school’s permission for the jaunt.

The 54-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying that he had not received any letter from the school refusing permission.

However, magistrates explained that in the eyes of the law no parent has permission to withdraw their child from school without the express permission of the headteacher.

On hearing that, the father then changed his plea.

He told Swindon magistrates: “Let’s deal with this now.”

Rosie Heath, solicitor for Swindon Borough Council, which brought the prosecution, said that the man had been sent a letter at the end of February refusing permission from the trip. The holiday, the court was told, involved the child missing 15 school days in the Easter term.

The court heard that a penalty notice was sent to the man in May, demanding a fine of £60 but no payment was forthcoming.

As the fine was unpaid it then rose to £150.

The father, whose child is of primary school age said he had not received any letters. The court was told that the letters had been sent to his father’s

house.

He also told the magistrates that the three-week holiday to India had been an “educational and cultural trip.”

He was ordered to pay a £217 fine, costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £30.