A teenager has criticised police after the man she claims attacked her was not prosecuted because time ran out.

Melissa Caffell was just 17 when officers were called to a confrontation between her, former partner Sean Cheeseman and her mum Gaye.

During this altercation, Cheeseman smashed up her bedroom – causing £1,000 damage – and was investigated for physically attacking the two women.

Now 19, Miss Caffell says she was in bed at the time and suffered black eyes and bruises to her face.

Although Medway resident Cheeseman later admitted criminal damage in court, he didn’t face charges relating to the women’s injuries.

When contacted by our sister paper the Medway Messenger, the 26-year-old, who has lived in Strood and Chatham, said he'd been attacked and had to defend himself.

According to Miss Caffell, officers were looking at prosecuting him with a serious assault offence.

However, time ran out after it was agreed with prosecutors the lesser crime of common assault be pursued.

But this had to be dropped because it has a six-month time limit for charges to be brought.

Cheeseman appeared before Medway magistrates last July and admitted criminal damage at the property in Station Road, Teynham, at Easter 2015.

He was ordered to carry out unpaid work and pay Miss Caffell hundreds of pounds in compensation.

Miss Caffell, who has moved to Wales and is studying to become a support worker, says she had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

She has complained to the police’s professional standards department about why her former partner had not been charged with assault.

She said: “The officer told me he’d put the paperwork in late, he admitted to me it was his fault.

“I gave them all the evidence they needed and the police officers who came to my house when it happened also gave statements saying they saw [Cheeseman] attacking me.

“Every time my mum and I went to the police station to give paperwork over and talk to the officer, he was on holiday.”

The matter took a turn late last year when police contacted Miss Caffell over comments she had made on social media.

She said: “I was so incensed he had not been charged with assault, so in October, I decided to post pictures of my injuries on Facebook.”

The post was shared more than 600 times.

Then a few weeks later in December, Miss Caffell was called by Medway police.

“Every time my mum and I went to the police station to give paperwork over and talk to the officer, he was on holiday” - Melissa Caffell

She says she was told she would be arrested for harassment if she posted anything more about Cheeseman.

She added: “It’s just a joke.”

Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Cheeseman said he and Miss Caffell were not in a relationship and he was staying with her temporarily as he was homeless.

He says he had interrupted an argument between the mother and daughter and had pushed Miss Caffell as he attempted to defend himself.

A police spokesman said: “We take all reports of domestic violence seriously and always strive to put victims at the heart of everything we do.

“A full and thorough investigation had been carried out into this particular incident, in which it was alleged a man had assaulted two women and caused criminal damage to their property.

“However, due to the length of the investigation, the six-month time limit available to charge someone with common assault expired, and only charges of criminal damage were pursued.

“Kent Police’s professional standards department has investigated subsequent complaints and provided an update to the victims.

“We have an obligation to investigate all reported offences, and on December 6, 2016 officers were notified of shared messages on social media that had allegedly put a man in fear of violence being committed against him.

“The authors of the posts have been spoken to and given advice about their online activity but no arrests have been made.

“Kent Police continues to encourage all victims of domestic violence to have the confidence to come forward and report any offences committed against them.”