Two men needed hospital treatment and one victim had a large amount of hair pulled from her head in the fracas in Barnham on Easter Sunday, which prompted police to enforce dispersal orders.
The village has become a hotspot for violence and criminality with residents describing the place as lawless and being “held hostage by feral youths”.
Following the incident, shopkeepers hired private security and locals held a public meeting to demand action on the worsening situation.
The public meeting at Barnham Village Hall (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) Read more: Teenage violence ‘has become normal’ in village terrorised by yobs
At Brighton Youth Court today two 15-year-old girls and two 16-year-old girls were warned they could be jailed over the brawl.
A fifth girl aged 13 was told she is too young to be detained.
None of the girls, who all admitted affray and assaults, can be named for legal reasons.
The court heard all five had been drinking before launching a violent attack on another girl in the waiting room at Barnham railway station.
Melanie Wootton, prosecuting, described how the incident unfolded.
“There is an argument and they pull her to the ground, punching and kicking her,” she said.
“The violence spills out of the waiting room and a member of the public, Ms Rebecca Phillips-Rowbottom tries to stop the assault.
“She is grabbed by her hair with such force a substantial amount is pulled out.
“She is punched and pulled to the ground and further assaulted.
“Another person in the waiting room is also assaulted.
Read more: Fourteen youths arrested in operation to stop rampant crime spree in village
“Rail enforcement officers attempt to stop what is going on and they are also assaulted.
“One had to go to hospital with concern over his eye. Another is assaulted and has to be treated for concussion.”
Police called to the station were also assaulted.
“They have their hair pulled and they are head butted, punched and kicked,” said Ms Wootton.
“All of the girls are involved in some level in assaulting all of them.
“This is a serious, violent offence involving a number of young people and members of the public who are trying to intervene in the assault of another young female.”
Defending one of the girls, Paula Bristow described the incident as having an element of mass hysteria.
“She is doing well at school and this was completely out of character,” she said.
“There is an element of mass hysteria in this incident.”
The station has been the scene of several incidents (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) A youth offender panel will review CCTV and police bodyworn camera footage of the incident to compile reports before the girls are sentenced in December.
District Judge Teresa Szagun told the girls: “The decision I have to make is either a referral order or detention.
“From what I have heard about this, detention is something I cannot rule out.”
Villagers said teenage violence has “become normal”.
They say the village has been plagued by teenagers drinking, thieving and throwing eggs on the streets.
Several train lines meet at the station, giving easy access and getaway.
In May, another video of an attack on a local restaurant led to more arrests.
Villagers in Barnham sent cards and messages of support after staff at the family-run Passage To India restaurant were assaulted.
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