Kym James, of Leamington Spa, Warks, admitted assaulting Rebecca Swaby, 14, at a fairground as 20 youngsters filmed the violence on their mobile phones.

The victim tried to walk past a gang in the incident last month but was stopped by James, Warwick Crown Court heard.

James was told to serve an additional two years on licence.

Since the attack... I'm frightened to go to school Rebecca Swaby

Judge Marten Coates told her she was a "dangerous individual" with a history of violence.

Neil Bannister, prosecuting, said Rebecca was approached by a gang as she walked across the fairground in Leamington with two girlfriends.

James, from Newland Road, stepped forward from the group and started swearing at her, he added.

Mr Bannister said: "The defendant head-butted Rebecca on the right side of her head.

"The defendant grabbed Rebecca by the hair and started to swing her around. She wrapped her foot around Rebecca's leg and Rebecca was pushed to the floor."

Previous attacks

Mr Bannister said it was only as Rebecca got to her feet to run off that she realised she was being filmed by the crowd of laughing youngsters.

She suffered two broken front teeth, cut lips, footprint shaped bruises on her leg and injuries to her spine during the attack, which she described as "unprovoked".

In a victim support statement, read to the court, the youngster said: "My two friends ran away because they were really frightened.

"Since the attack... I'm frightened to go to school. The fear I feel is real. I feel unsafe. I fear to go outside."

Rebecca's father now walks her to the bus stop in the mornings and her mother, a contract cleaner, has given up work in the evenings to stay at home with her daughter.

The court heard that in other attacks James head-butted and punched a victim in both eyes in front of 12 children and also kicked and punched a child during a school lunch time.