TWO teenage girls who stamped and kicked a friend in a vicious and prolonged attack have been convicted.

A 17-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and 19-year-old Chanice Hammond, of St Pancras in Chichester, assaulted a 16-year-old after the three of them had gone to Hammond's flat to socialise in the early hours of Thursday November 7, 2013.

The victim walked out to get some fresh air in nearby New Park, but was beaten up, punched, stamped on and kicked, by the two others.

They then took her back to the flat, where they continued to beat her, at one point making her take a hot water bath to get the blood off her.

The victim sustained severe facial injuries including cuts and swelling, which required hospital treatment.

The 17-year old girl pleaded guilty at Chichester Crown Court on May 11 to causing actual bodily harm, and was sentenced to 12 months youth rehabilitation, a restraining order to prevent her from contacting the victim, and 220 hours unpaid work.

Hammond also pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, a 12 month supervision order, and 240 hours community service, at Chichester Crown Court on Wednesday.

Detective Constable Paul Gilmour said; "This was a nasty unprovoked attack and the victim was fortunate not to have sustained lasting injuries.

"The motive is still not clear, but it may have some connection with a trivial falling-out of some kind that is thought they may have had a few weeks previously."