i'm not actually saying that ignorance is a defense, I'm just give a bit of the benefit of the doubt (on the not being there point), imagine that for every course that he had 'run' he was there and showed up as he says, then just before this one someone close to him dies, then i think that there is a good reason for him not being there, and a way to worm out from trading standards. though you would expect him to let everyone there knowing he wouldn't be showing. the other issues not so hard to get out of.
WN