Police urge people to stop sharing video of schoolgirl being beaten-up

Leicestershire police have asked people to stop sharing a viral video showing a 12-year-old girl being beaten for "wearing the wrong trainers".

They say it could affect their investigation into the matter.

The footage, first shared online by the mother of Katie Morris, appears to show her daughter being punched unconscious, then being kicked and spat on by her attackers.

When the youngster, from Coalville in Leicestershire, tried to stand up for herself she was thrown into stinging nettles during the attack at Ivanhoe College in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leics.

Katie was left with concussion and injuries to both her mouth and nose after the attack on June 23 where fellow students just watched without helping.

Her mum, Antonia King, 32, claims the group of schoolgirls had been threatening to attack her for some time, but had never resorted to violence before.

Antonia informed the school and police but, when no action was forthcoming, resorted to posting footage of the attack, which had been sent to her by a shocked witness, on her Facebook page.

So far, more than 270,000 people have seen the shocking footage, with more than 2,000 commenting and calling for the bullies to be arrested and thrown out of school.

The school were unavailable for a comment.

Leicestershire Police confirmed the incident was being investigated.

A spokeswoman for the force said: "We are aware that a video of an alleged assault in Ashby has been circulated on social media.

"The video relates to an altercation involving two teenage girls in Ashby on the Tuesday, June 23.

"Both parties have been identified and inquiries are underway into the report."