TWO young girls smiled as they ignored their victims' pleas to stop their attack with a baseball bat.

Chester students Aimee Clark, 19, and Rosie Blumenthal, 18, were viciously beaten as their 15 year old attackers tried to steal a handbag.

Bianca White, of Harwood Avenue, Lytham St Annes, and a girl who cannot be named, approached the students on Whipcord Lane and tried to steal Aimee's bag.

Claire Jones, prosecuting, said: 'There were so many blows she (Aimee) lost count after three. Rosie pleaded with her to stop hitting her. She covered Aimee's head with her hands but they struck her hands.

'Rosie felt a warmness to her face and knew she was bleeding. Both defendants were smiling as if enjoying what they were doing.'

Initially, both defendants had grabbed Aimee Clark's handbag, at which point Rosie Blumenthal saw they had a baseball bat.

Aimee was struck to her head by White, according to the prosecution. As she suffered more blows she fell to the pavement, where she was dragged along the ground.

The attack, on March 1, only stopped when passers-by Daniel Graham and Colin Gwyn Johnston ran over and took the bat. Both men were given court commendations.

Aimee Clark needed 19 stitches and had a black eye. Rosie Blumenthal had swollen hands and a head wound. Both girls now fear going out alone.

White pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with intent to rob and on June 21 was sentenced to 18 months detention and training, taking into account 112 days spent in custody.

She has previous convictions for actual bodily harm and common assault in 2005, and making off without payment and theft in 2006.

Paul Abrahams, defending, said White had completed GCSEs and was 'capable of being an asset to society'.

Her companion, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has not been tracked down since entering her guilty plea.

Recorder of Chester Judge Elgan Edwards called in a Merseyside Police officer to find out why 'nothing is apparently done' to find her, saying he would 'not take any excuses'.