'Happy slapping' video slammed

The "happy slapping" incident led to eight children being arrested, with three given final warnings by police.

The attack took place at the recreation ground next to allotments in Worthing Road, Littlehampton.

A 14-year-old girl from Littlehampton Community School and another girl were approached by a group of around 10 young people aged 14-15 they knew from school.

The girl's friend ran away but the victim was hit in the face and fell to the floor, blacking out. She told police that the other members of the group were encouraging the attack but could only be sure that she was assaulted by three of them. These were the three given the sternest warnings by police.

The girl suffered bruising and a cut to the bridge of her nose in the attack. Police were alerted to the incident by the girl's mother and immediately began an investigation.

Sgt Peter Allan of Littlehampton police said: "The assault itself was relatively minor but it was made much worse by the fact that the whole thing was captured on video and that this footage was then sent out to other people.

"The victim received a phone call from a friend to say that he had been shown footage of the attack.

"Eight people have been arrested and interviewed by police, which seems to have been sparked off by accusations of name-calling in the school.

"We take this sort of attack very seriously. Any kind of violence will be dealt with robustly and it's clearly not on for it to be shown as some kind of entertainment."

Littlehampton Community School head teacher Jane Wilson said: "The school was informed by the police straightaway.

They are superb in Littlehampton and we work closely with them on these sorts of matters.

"We have not been involved with what's happened outside of school nor have we dealt with it inside school, but I have spoken to all the children involved."