A parent has been electronically tagged for failing to send their children to school.

The parent, who cannot be named for legal reasons, now must stay indoors between 8pm and 7am, after their 14-year-old attended only 70% of their school lessons, while their five-year-old went to just 15% of classes.

Both parents of the children pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court for failing to ensure regular school attendance of two of their children.

It is the first time a parent has been electronically tagged in the city for the offence and is one of the first instances in the country.

Brighton and Hove City Council refused to confirm whether it was the mother or father of the children who will be electronically tagged for three months.

They were also given a 12 month conditional discharge.

The other parent was sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge and a community order for 150 hours of unpaid work.

If they breach the conditional discharge it could lead to a prison sentence or a fine of £2,500.

The council has taken 213 cases to court for parents failing to send their children to school since April 2004. One parent has been sent to prison for eight weeks for the offence.