AN ANDOVER woman who claims she was assaulted says she’s living in fear after her alleged attacker walked free.

Melanie Hankey, 20, who lives in High Street says she feels as though her assailant has won after police made an arrest but failed to press charges over the incident.

Miss Hankey says she was standing talking to a friend in Newbury Street, near Office Depot, at around 4.45pm on Saturday, November 7, when a man in his early 30s fell into her pushchair with her 18-month-old daughter in.

She says after telling the man to watch where he was going he became aggressive towards her putting his arm across her chest and headbutting her.

“My daughter was screaming,” she said.

“If he walked into me I wouldn’t have bothered about it, but it was the fact that he flattened my daughter.

“Then he told me he knew I’m from this estate and he’s going to get me whether I have got my daughter or not.

“He walked off and I ran back to my mum’s.

“I was really upset, I was crying loads.”

Miss Hankey said her mum called the police and she was told to go down to the police station .

She added: “I wanted someone to be arrested, make him fear a little bit, how can you go around doing that?

“They arrested him, but it was my word against his, he’s denied everything, so they couldn’t act on it.

“But I had a friend witness it too.

“I have been told if I see him to cross the road, I shouldn’t have to live in fear, it’s like he’s won.”

A police spokesman said: “We received an allegation of an assault on a woman in Newbury Road, Andover, at around 5pm on Saturday, November 7.

“A 33-year-old man from Andover was subsequently arrested on suspicion of assault.

“Officers pursued all possible lines of enquiry in their investigation, but the decision was taken to release the man without any further action.

“This was communicated fully to the woman, and she was advised that she could ask to review the decision.

“She was also given advice about safeguarding.

“We understand that the woman did not suffer any lasting injuries, and neither did a child she had with her at the time.

“We take all reports of violence seriously and will investigate and take action where necessary.”