Girl beaten by bullies

The 15-year-old needed hospital treatment after being kicked, punched and stamped on by two girls in Undercliffe, Bradford.

Her parents said Bethany had been tormented by a group of bullies for four years at Immanuel CE Community College, Thackley, before she was violently attacked in the street outside school hours.

Her mother Tracey James said the bullying had included name-calling and abusive text and internet messages.

Bethany was attacked when she was leaving a video shop in Otley Road with three of her friends, at about 9 o'clock at night, said Mrs James.

She was kicked and punched to the floor by the girls, whom she recognised from school. They pulled her hair and stamped on her head while she lay prone on the pavement.

One friend called her mother who arrived in time to pull one of the girls off Bethany, before driving her to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Mrs James and her husband Antony, of Thackley, dashed to meet them at the hospital's A&E department.

"I've never seen anything like it, one of the doctors said she looked like she'd been in a car crash," said Mrs James.

"Her nose was split open, her mouth had been kicked and her braces caused lacerations, her lips were badly swollen, she was covered in blood, it was all over her clothes, and lumps of her hair were missing.

"It could have been worse, she could have suffered brain damage or have been stabbed, you just don't know - it was a vicious attack.

"She's not been out since it happened, at the moment she's got no life at all.

"She's had name-calling on and off since she started at the school and she's had it on her mobile phone and over the internet after school finished.

"I could take her out of the school but not all the schools run with the same examining boards and modules."

Bethany, who wants to attend beauty college when she finishes school, said: "My nose is still bruised and hurts at the top.

"I'm too embarrassed to go out, everyone can see it and knows what has happened to me. I don't know how I'll cope if I see them at school. It's been hard to put up with."

A West Yorkshire police spokesman confirmed they are investigating the attack and had identified a number of suspects.

But Mr and Mrs James said they are unhappy with the way Bethany's school has handled their complaints about the bullying of their daughter.

Mrs James said: "I've been to the school on at least six previous occasions to tell them Bethany was being bullied but it has continued.

"Since the attack she has only been going to school for two hours a day in the isolation unit, while these girls carry on as normal.

"The school wants her back in class as soon as possible but who wants to go back to these animals?

"She feels she's got no-one to turn to and when you're bullied you lose your confidence and I don't know how it is going to affect her in years to come."

Chris Robinson, deputy head teacher at Immanuel College, said: "While Immanuel College cannot comment on individual situations we recognise that there may be complex issues between students and parents outside school which lie beyond our control.

"Within school, Immanuel College has an effective anti-bullying policy which is shared with all students, parents and staff.

"Any bullying in school that the College becomes aware of is dealt with in a very robust manner supported by the additional care we show for each other through our strong Christian ethos.

"The safety, well-being and care of our students and staff is paramount at Immanuel College."

Last year Immanuel achieved the National Healthy Schools Standard which involves an extensive audit of the school including its anti-bullying policies.

Bethany's parents have asked Councillor David Ward, a Thackley and Idle ward councillor and Bradford Council's Liberal Democrat group education spokesman, for help.

Coun Ward said: "I treat any incidents of this nature very seriously, having had some personal experience with bullying in my own family, and I expect any school to do the same.

"In my view it is irrelevant if it happened out of school hours, as long as the suspects are pupils of that school. I see it as part of the school's relationship with the local community to act in these situations."