Becky Smith's ordeal was filmed using a mobile phone

Police said the 16-year-old had been given a final reprimand - the juvenile equivalent of a caution.

Becky Smith, 16, was temporarily paralysed and suffered a black eye, bruises and cuts while her ordeal was filmed by boys using a mobile phone.

Her mother criticised the decision but Greater Manchester Police said it had taken Crown Prosecution Service advice.

Georgina Smith, 39, of Blackley, Manchester, said: "I am very angry indeed and so is Becky.

Maybe next time it will be a murder and then they will have to do something about it Georgina Smith

"She feels as if she has been beaten up and the girl who did it has got away with it.

"The police have slapped her again. She has done nothing wrong and does not deserve this.

"There is no deterrent to stop anyone else from doing the same.

"Maybe next time it will be a murder and then they will have to do something about it, but it will be too late by then."

Becky had been attacked at Plant Hill High School in Blackley on 9 May and was knocked unconscious while a gang of five boys filmed the attack.

Random attacks

She spent two days at North Manchester General Hospital before going home.

Greater Manchester Police said officers had initially arrested her attacker on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. She was given the reprimand after answering bail on Tuesday.

The attack was the latest "happy slapping" incident in which children attack other youngsters or random passers-by and record the attacks on their phones.

Videos of the "slaps" are then exchanged between phones and sometimes posted on the internet.