A brave teenager who was beaten and robbed by a female bully has urged other victims to find the courage to testify against their attackers.

Alexandra Steel, 19, needed hospital treatment for serious cuts and bruises to her face after she was attacked in a friend’s flat in Shipley by Jodie Conlon.

Conlon, 18, of Rowan Court, Fagley, was sentenced to six years in a young offenders’ institution earlier this month after pleading guilty to robbing Alexandra, known as Alex.

The robbery happened at a flat in Rochester Street, Shipley, in the early hours of October 31 last year.

Alexandra’s mother, Sue Hindle, said it had been a revenge attack after Conlon had previously been sent to custody for an attack on her daughter.

She said that four months after being released Conlon punched and kicked her daughter in a sustained attack during which her mobile phone and purse were stolen.

Mrs Hindle said: “She looked as if she had gone through the windscreen of a car afterwards.

“It has had a massive effect on her. She doesn’t even want to speak to her friends now.”

Alexandra, of Idle, Bradford, works as a waitress at a cafe in Shipley, but is now looking for another job and is hoping to pass her driving test to give her more independence.

“I feel frightened about going into Shipley,” she said. “All I can do is try to get another job and get on with my life.”

She said the worst part of the experience was when Conlon pretended to be her friend when the emergency services arrived at the scene.

“She was cuddling me as I lay injured,” Alexandra said. “When I was asked who had attacked me I indicated it was her with my eyes because I was too scared to say. It was horrible.

“I hope that when she comes out of custody she won’t come anywhere near me, and that she will learn from what she has done.

“It has taken a lot of courage for me to do this. But I would say to anyone in the same position: come forward. It’s the right thing to do and it’s the best way to be safe.”

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Constable Chris Hakes, of Airedale and North Bradford CID, said: “This was a particularly violent offence, which fortunately is a rare occurrence.

“We are very happy with the six-year custodial sentence, which will serve as a reminder to all offenders that bullying and repeatedly traumatising people will not be tolerated in society.