A BRAVE teenager who was filmed being attacked in front of a jeering mob in Ellesmere Port has spoken out saying: ‘we can’t let the bullies win’.

Jess Astbury, 15, and her mum Sarah spoke exclusively to The Standard after the vile video was posted on Facebook.

The footage – which Sarah cannot bring herself to watch - shows a gang of youths surrounding her daughter in Whitby Park while one girl spits in her face, screams at her and eventually attacks her.

All the while the main aggressor is goaded to punch Jess while others jeer and record the scene on their mobile phones.

Jess was left with two black eyes, a broken nose and a torn neck muscle and told this newspaper it was the most frightening thing she has ever experienced.

The courageous teen, who attends Cheshire College - South & West, said: “Bullies are horrible people and shouldn’t be able to get away with it.

“I want anyone who is being bullied to know that there are always people they can speak to and they shouldn’t just hide away. We can’t let the bullies win.”

Mum Sarah, 47, echoed her daughter’s message, branding those who assaulted her as “vile animals”.

“They need to get the message that this will not be tolerated,” she said. “It’s disgusting what they did. They are a bunch of animals. To spit in her face and attack her; they are vile.”

A keen dancer with aspirations of turning professional, Jess’s injuries have left her unable to attend classes since the attack on Saturday, September 8.

She added: “I wake up every hour at night with a different nightmare. I’ve not had a good night’s sleep since it happened.”

Recounting her ordeal, Jess said she and two friends had gone to the fair at Whitby Park at around 6pm. They encountered a group of youths and one of the girls accused Jess of making up lies – something she outright denies.

Jess was then surrounded while a male friend tried in vain to defuse the situation. She can be heard asking her main tormentor to leave her alone on multiple occasions.

She is spat at and then attacked while by-standers laugh, shout and record the assault on their phones.

“I tried to fight back in self-defence,” said Jess. “I was really scared that something really bad was going to happen. I thought I might not come out of it walking.”

Luckily a fairground worker intervened and the gang dispersed. Jess then walked home and told her mum, who called the police.

Both Sarah and Jess said the police had been very supportive and had taken the investigation seriously.

“They’ve been brilliant,” said Sarah.

The video has been viewed more than half a million times after it was shared by comedian, commentator and bully-shamer Robin Armstrong on his Facebook page with a view to finding those responsible.

Cheshire Police confirmed a 15-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm (ABH) in relation to an incident in Whitby Park on September 8. She has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.

Shockingly, Jess said that in her experience it is not uncommon for young people to be attacked and filmed, and sometimes fights are even pre-arranged on social media.

She said she had received messages of support from people across the globe who had seen the footage on Mr Armstrong’s page.

“To have that support makes me feel good about myself and it shows we should stand up to bullies,” she said. “I hope everyone gets the message.”

* There are a number of support organisations available for people who are being bullied. BullyingUK has a helpline on 0808 800 2222 and the National Bullying Helpline number is 0845 22 55 787. ChildLine helps anyone under 18 and can be contacted on 0800 11 11.