Jail threat over 'phobia' girl

The parents of a girl who doctors have confirmed suffers from "school phobia" have been threatened with prison for not sending her to school.

Gemma Maisey, 11, has attended class only twice in the past three months and her parents have been told they could be jailed as was Patricia Amos, whose two daughters played truant.

But Gemma's mother, Sarah Maisey, said they do not want their daughter missing her education and called for more awareness of her rare condition.

Gemma who attends Hreod Parkway Secondary School in Swindon, found it difficult to attend studies again after being away for six weeks recovering from a chest injury. She became so worried about falling behind that she started to suffer panic attacks whenever she returned to class.

Mrs Maisey claimed the school refused to believe Gemma suffered the attacks until she had one in class and was sent home.

Headteacher Andrew Fleetsaid: "There is a great anxiety within the family and we will always seek to work constructively to ease this."