The pupil bloodied and battered beyond recognition by teenage girls

The appalling injuries inflicted on the 15-year-old are shocking enough. But what is more horrifying is that they were the work of two teenage girls.

This photo of Bethany was taken in hospital by her mother, Tracey James, who said: 'The picture is shocking. I want people to know what the reality of bullying means.'

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Bethany had been tormented by bullies at her school in Bradford, West Yorkshire, for four years – including being subjected to a torrent of insults and abusive text and internet messages.

But it was as she was leaving a video shop near her home in Undercliffe with friends on September 7 that she was beaten up.

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

One friend called her mother, who arrived in time to pull one of the girls away from Bethany and drive the injured girl to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Mrs James, a 46-year-old hairdresser, and her husband Anthony rushed to the hospital.

Mr James, 47, a telecoms engineer, said: 'It was horrific as a parent to see one of your children in a hospital bed covered in blood. I couldn't believe it. It was only when I got to the hospital that I realised the full extent of the attack.'

Mrs James added: 'I've never seen anything like it. One of the doctors said she looked like she'd been in a car crash.

'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.'

Mrs James claimed teachers had failed to put a stop to the repeated bullying endured by her daughter at Immanuel CE Community College in Thackley.

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

'Since the attack she has been going to school for only 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?'

Two weeks on, Bethany is still in pain. She said: 'My nose is still bruised and hurts at the top. I'm too embarrassed to go out.'

Police said two girls have been questioned as witnesses but no arrests have been made.

Chris Robinson, deputy head at Immanuel College, said: 'Any bullying that the college becomes aware of is dealt with in a robust manner supported by the additional care we show for each other through our strong Christian ethos.'