Police are now appealing to anyone who may have seen the sickening footage posted on any website.

The 15-year-old was walking home along Elizabeth Way, in Seaton Carew, when he was set on by two older teens near Seaton Carew Golf Club.

One pulled out his phone and recorded the teenager being punched in the head in what police have described as a "despicable attack".
The boy suffered a black eye.

Now police are appealing to anyone who has seen a mobile phone clip of the incident or have seen the video on a website to contact them with any information.

Officers believe the footage could help track down the violent thugs.
It follows a line of similar incidents in which victims have had their distress filmed.

The most high profile in the town being that of Christine Lakinski, 50, who was urinated on by Anthony Anderson, 27, as she lay dying in the town's Raby Road.

During the attack last July, he shouted: "This is YouTube material." He is now serving a three-year prison sentence.

The town's first "happy slapping" attack is thought to have happened in May 2006 when a 71-year-old man was assaulted by a group of youths with mobile phones.

In May last year an 18-year-old suffered a similar attack and had the same embarrassment of having his ordeal filmed.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said of the latest incident, which took place at 8pm on Friday, April 11: "This is a despicable attack.

"Not only have they attacked this boy but they have filmed his ordeal. For someone to film it almost beggars belief.

"We hope that if someone has seen this video it pricks their conscience and they report it to us.

"One of the males had a mobile phone which he used to record the incident and we would be interested to see whether anyone has seen the footage on the phone or on internet sites."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hartlepool police on (01642) 302126 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.