Term-time holiday fine couple made a stand against 'unfair system'

As the couple faced a media scrum at Telford Magistrates Court, Mr Sutherland's parents Tina and George offered their support.

The case has created headlines across Britain, the issue of term-time holidays striking a chord with families across the country.

And while the couple pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to ensure a child of compulsory school age attended school regularly, there has been much sympathy from other parents.

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Stewart and Natasha Sutherland were today facing the prospect of paying fines and costs of £1,000 after refusing to pay £360 in fixed penalty fines for taking their three children on a week-long break to Greece in September 2013.

Some of that money will come from around £500 offered by ITV's Daybreak for an interview today. There have also been offers of help from complete strangers who say they back the couple's stand.

The couple told the court they refused to pay the first fine "out of principle" and had no choice but to appear in court to have their say as the system does not have an appeal process. They said they had no regrets about taking the holiday to Rhodes with Sian, 13, Keane, six, and Rhiannan, 15

George Sutherland, who was in court to support his son, said: "My grandchildren have a good attendance and are very bright. I feel disappointed that my son and his wife have been put through this stress, by trying to provide my grandchildren with the best quality of life they can.The lack of appeal process is ridiculous. How much money has been wasted dragging a hard-working family to court?"

"Stewart is a strong man with strong principles and he feels he is being punished for being honest. It is just wrong."

Speaking before the verdict, grandmother Tina said: "I just hope the magistrates show some common sense. I am frightened for them; they have been threatened with jail. The children are supposed to be the priority but has anyone thought how it would affect them if both their parents were jailed?"

The couple were also supported by Stewart's brother. Kevan Sutherland said: "I think the main point here is that every case should be looked at on an individual basis and then this would never have got this far.

"There is no middle ground; it is a very unfair system. Stewart is standing up and I hope he can make a difference. People will say kids have six-week holiday, but if you work in an environment where 80 per cent of the workforce want the same time off it is not possible."

Mr Sutherland, 39, who is adamant that the cost of the holiday outside of the six-week break never came into the decision to go away in late September said: "I didn't want to come to court, I simply wanted a chance to explain our situation but there is no appeal process."

Mr Sutherland, who represented himself and his 36-year-old wife, told the magistrates they felt they were being punished for working full time and being honest with the school. He said: "This country would come to a standstill if everyone took time off at the same time. Parents are now just taking the fine into consideration when taking their children on holiday or telling teachers their children are ill for a week. If we had been dishonest we would not be here today.

"I am being punished as a criminal because I am trying to do my best for my family."

The court was told that all three children currently have an overall attendance record of above 90 per cent and were receiving A* marks in some subjects.

Mr Sutherland said: "If I had only been fined for Rhiannan, I said all along I would have paid the fine because I understand she is in her final year. But Keane is six, and when we returned he was praised for his outstanding achievement."

When sentencing the couple, Magistrate Chair Janice Haines said that Mr Sutherland explained his situation eloquently. She said: "We have taken into account your earnings and guilty plea. We have looked at the fine as a joint family income because you are bringing up the family together."

However, the couple were ordered to pay £630 fine, £300 court costs and £63 victim surcharge.

• See also: Shropshire family says term-time holiday row fine is ‘a joke’