TWO teenage girls stopped to pose for photographs in between violent attacks on a school caretaker.

Victim Michael Lloyd had a thumb bent back, and his injuries were so severe he is still off work and cannot drive.

One of the 14-year-olds also launched assaults on police officers when they arrived to arrest her, and later at the station, a youth court was told.

The incident was sparked at Worcester's Elbury Mount Primary, last Friday, when Mr Lloyd was alerted to a gang of around 12 to 15 youngsters smashing bottles in the school grounds.

Sally Badham, prosecuting, said two of the group followed him after he asked the group to leave. They pulled his jacket and began kicking him on the legs.

The two girls in question cannot be named for legal reasons.

"He could smell alcohol on them," said Mrs Badham. "They were kicking him with such force his shins went numb and they pulled back one of his thumbs."

The 29-year-old sustained ligament damage to the thumb.

After the seven-minute attack, the caretaker went home to call the police, the hearing at Droitwich Magistrates Court was told.

Mrs Badham said that, as he bent down, he was kicked in the behind.

Mr Lloyd took photos of the girls to show police, "and they even posed".

One of the girls had a large bottle of beer, but "both were heavily under the influence of alcohol and were abusive and making obscene remarks.

"The police arrived to find the girls struggling with Mr Lloyd and in a scuffle one of the officers suffered injuries to the chest and chin and another had a cut finger.

"They maintained a non-stop tirade of abuse towards the police."

At the police station, a custody assistant was punched in the forehead.

6 Cont on P56

From P1 / 6 Both teenagers admitted causing harassment and alarm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the caretaker.

One girl admitted further matters of criminal damage to a police cell door - between Thursday, April 26, and Sunday, April 29 - and two counts of assault by beating.

Magistrates called for pre-sentence reports and adjourned the case until Friday, June 8.