Three teenagers who were filmed launching a group attack on a girl in Twickenham have been sent to a youth detention centre.

Magistrates twice watched the film in which a 13-year-old, two 14-year-olds and a 16-year-old girl pushed another girl to the floor and began kicking her while around 20 youths watched. The clip of the assault, in Fifth Cross Road on November 26 last year, had been put on the website Bebo for a short time after.

On Tuesday, April 8, at Richmond magistrates court, the youngest girl was given seperate sentences of four months in a detention and training centre for using unlawful violence and actual bodily harm.

One of the 14-year-olds received two sentences of six months and a further one of four months for assaulting two police officers during her arrest.

The 16-year-old was also given two sentences of six months and the other 14-year-old, who previously had a clean record, was issued with a 12 month referal order.

Magistrates ordered that all sentences should be served concurrently and that the girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, would serve half their sentences.

Chair of the bench, Mr Piper, said: "The attack was of a particularly sickening nature.

"You are very fortunate that more serious and lasting injuries did not result."

The four girls had previously pleaded guilty to the charges and, in mitigation, Ms Khatun asked the magistrates to take that into account.

One of the girls was said to have suffered as a result of not receiving medication for ADHD and one of the fathers present spoke to the magistrates about a period of hardship for his family, adding "they are not wicked or evil."

Each girl expressed their remorse, saying they were sorry and would learn from their mistakes.