A hard-up dad was left with a £666 court bill for taking his son on holiday during school time.
But he told a court it was all a mistake because he used the 2017 calendar to book the break - although it was for the next year.
"It was a large schoolboy error on my part. I misjudged it and missed half-term which was a week later.
"He has had 100 percent attendance since," said the man. He is in his 50s and lives in Nottingham.
He signed a declaration that he was unaware of legal moves which brought the case to court.
Before that, Nottingham City Council sent him a £60 penalty notice which doubled if left for three weeks. He did not pay that and it eventually landed in front of magistrates.
The man, who said he had been declared bankrupt, told the court he was shocked to receive a demand for £666 when knowing nothing of the legal action.
This was set aside and replaced with a £40 fine and £182 costs. He admitted failing to ensure the school attendance of the boy for a fortnight.
City magistrates heard he asked the headteacher for permission to take the boy on holiday during term-time. This was refused but he took him anyway.
Presiding JP Norman King told him: "There are a lot of schoolboy errors involved.
"We will fine you £40 to give you the opportunity you had at the beginning.
"We have kept our end of the bargain but the costs have to be paid."
He banned the boy and his dad from being named in public.
