Reading fiancee of dead cyclist accused of keeping grieving son out of school Published duration 28 September 2015

image copyright Tracey Fidler image caption Tracey Fidler says her son was grieving for the loss of his father Kris Jarvis

The partner of a cyclist killed by a drink-driver is being prosecuted after her son missed a number of days at school following the death.

Mother-of-five Tracey Fidler, from Reading, has been taken to court by Reading Borough Council for the non-attendance of her now 11-year-old son.

She says Adam, who was aged nine at the time his father was killed, was "grieving" and "in a state".

Reading council said it was urgently trying to find a resolution.

The next hearing will be at Reading Magistrates' Court on 9 October.

'Unbelievable'

Ms Fidler, who denies the offence, could be fined up to £2,500, given a community order or jailed for up to three months.

She said being in court for her son not attending Battle Primary Academy enough times was "unbelievable".

image caption Adam failed to attend school while he was "grieving for his dad" said Tracey Fidler

image copyright Morland and Jarvis family image caption John Morland and Kris Jarvis were killed on 13 February 2014

She said: "He wasn't going to school basically because he was grieving for his dad. Since the incident he's been suffering big time.

"He wasn't off school because he was truanting, he was off because he was grieving.

"He's scared his mum is going to be taken away from him now. I'm just dreading the outcome."

Ms Fidler is representing herself in what is a civil prosecution.

Her fiancee, Kris Jarvis, 39, who worked for Reading council, died on 13 February 2014 when he and his friend John Morland were hit by Alexander Walters, 31, from Purley-on-Thames

A petition set up by Mr Jarvis's sister-in-law Amy Parks asking for proceedings to be dropped has attracted more than 6,500 signatures.