A man left fighting for his life after he was knocked down by a car claims police are refusing to investigate the accident because he had been drinking.

Jagjit Singh Sidhu, who suffered multiple fractures to his head and chest and spent several days in intensive care, is convinced no action is being taken against the female driver because police have branded him “public enemy number one”.

The 51-year-old is one of several men who regularly meet and drink near the clock tower in Gravesend town centre, where a crackdown against drinkers is now in force.

Mr Sidhu said: “They [the police] have told me there is no CCTV of the accident but it’s funny there is always CCTV when we are drinking. It works then.” he said.

“I am not a troublemaker. I don’t swear, it’s not in my nature, and I’m always helping old ladies to read the bus stop sign and I always chuck my cans in the bins. That has always been my motto and I tell everyone else to do the same.

“But the police have me as public enemy number one.

“I have been to hell and back and they are saying they can do nothing. The driver should have been cautioned at least.”

Mr Sidhu, who lives in Harmer Street, was sent a letter informing him of the police’s decision while he was still recovering in King’s College Hospital, London.

The accident on August 28 came as Mr Sidhu was throwing a beer can into a bin in Milton Road. He was struck by a Citroen Berlingo near the junction with Peacock Street.

The impact knocked Mr Sidhu onto the car bonnet before rolling onto the pavement.

The unemployed bricklayer spent three weeks in hospital with injuries that included fractures to his skull, cheekbone, spine, ribs and sternum. He also developed pneumonia.

“I don’t recall how it exactly happened but I can remember my friends helping me up and I was clutching onto the bin when the ambulance came.”

Mr Sidhu’s next memory is waking up in hospital several days later.

“The doctors said it was a miracle I survived. I lost a lot of weight and went from 12st to 8st because I couldn’t eat.

“I still have problems with my shoulder and I’m in a lot of pain, although I didn’t fracture it. I also have memory problems.”

Mr Sidhu openly admits to being an alcoholic and not being able to function without drinking up to eight cans of beer a day. He admitted about having a conviction for violence.

“I am not a troublemaker. I don’t swear, it’s not in my nature, and I’m always helping old ladies to read the bus stop sign and I always chuck my cans in the bins" - Jagjit Singh Sidhu

But he is adamant he and his friends are not troublemakers. “We are not frightening people and I only shout because I’m deaf. You might get the odd one who might cause trouble but we sort it out and tell them to go.

“If we are not causing trouble, why move us on? It’s just police harassment.”

The car involved in the collision with Mr Sidhu was driven by a 66-year-old woman.

Mr Sidhu received a letter from a case review officer. Dated September 11, stating: “The circumstances have been carefully considered and it has been decided that no further action will be taken.”

It added that the decision related only to the manner of driving and that any other offences may still be subject to due consideration.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Specialist officers in Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit thoroughly and fully investigated the circumstances of the incident, which also included appealing for witnesses through the local media.

"CCTV, which is owned by and is the responsibility of the local authority and not police, was explored as an option but there were no cameras or coverage of where the incident took place.

"After investigating and gathering all the evidence and taking witness statements, it was concluded that the driver of the car involved in the collision did not have a case to answer.

"Kent Police takes all incidents reported seriously and where an offence has alleged to have been committed, we investigate thoroughly with all the tools available to us."