THIS horrific picture provokes just one response: Who did this?

And 27-year-old victim Sarah Swift also wants to know why she has been targeted by abusive yobs for many years.

Sarah was brutally attacked while walking home from shops close to her Almondbury home on Monday.

She was beaten and kicked by a gang of up to a dozen teenagers - both boys and girls.

Her family believes the misery she has endured - culminating in the dreadful violence - may be over something as trivial as Sarah being a horse owner.

Now police hope the shocking photograph of her injuries will encourage people to come forward and tell them who was responsible.

Sarah's problems started in about 1998 when youths taunted her because she was a keen horse rider.

The taunts - often involving abuse - have carried on ever since.

But things took a sinister turn on Monday when Sarah was shopping on Southfield Road in Almondbury at about 6.50pm.

As she left, the gang hanging around nearby swore at her.

She remonstrated with them and then carried on walking.

But when she reached Halton Close she was suddenly attacked from behind.

She was knocked to the ground several times and kicked in the face. Her appalling injuries included a fractured cheekbone, a broken arm and a badly bruised face and knees.

Her broken arm has had to be reset under a general anaesthetic.

Sarah said: "There were 11 or 12 of them aged 14 to 17 and many of them were girls.

"Every time I stood up to carry on walking home I was attacked from behind again and knocked to the ground.

"This happened about four times."

Her father, 53-year-old Alan, added: "Every time she faced them they did nothing. They only attacked her when her back was turned. We think this was instigated by a girl.

"Apart from her other injuries, Sarah suffered a nasty bang to her forehead when she was knocked to the ground the first time and left stunned and concussed."

He added: "These problems have being going on since 1998. We don't really know where it all stems from, but the name-calling usually involves a reference to her horse.

"Why can't my daughter walk down the streets in Almondbury without being verbally abused or assaulted? Why is she being targeted like this?"

One 16-year-old youth was arrested after the attack and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Sgt Tim O'Sullivan, of Huddersfield police, urged parents of youngsters in Almondbury to quiz their children and urge them to come forward if they had any information.

Contact Huddersfield police helpdesk on 01484 436659.