Kerry Katona has been fined £500 after pleading guilty to failing to ensure her child attends school.
Her solicitor entered the plea on her behalf during a trial at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, which Kerry did not attend herself.
During the trial, the court heard that at its lowest point, the child in question’s attendance was at just 48%, which Kerry’s lawyer said was in part down to the reality star’s “work commitments”, lack of childcare and the child’s illness.
Prosecutor Gareth Jones told the court: “There’s a failure to engage here. She’s not attending meetings. Letters are not being responded to.
“This is a problem that has gone on for some time.”
Kerry’s solicitor Ed Fish said by way of defence: “She understands it fell below what was expected of her. On occasions [the child] missed school due to Kerry Katona’s work commitments. She’s not had childcare and has to take the children to work.
“She understands she should maintain better contact with the school.”
For legal reasons, the identity of the child in question can not be revealed.
Magistrates initially handed Kerry a fine of £1000, though this was cut in half when lawyers pointed out this was the maximum possible fine, and suggested that they had not taken her guilty plea into account.
Kerry was given 14 days to pay the fine, as well as £325 in costs and a surcharge of £100.
Back in 2017, Kerry was accused of the same charge, after failing to pay a fine following a trip to Barbados during term time.
At the time, she argued that this trip had been organised by the children’s father.