A MUM who was kicked to the ground by a man after she rejected his advances says she is “lost for words” after he escaped with only a caution.

Amy Griffiths was withdrawing money from a cashpoint in High Street, Colchester, when the 22-year-old man came up behind her and put his arms around her shortly before 1am on Saturday.

But when the engaged Miss Griffiths, 26, made it clear she was not interested in him, the man kicked her several times, causing her to fall to the ground in pain.

Although the man was initially arrested on suspicion of assault, he was later only cautioned by Essex Police, which means he will not face court action.

The man was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer but will face no further action.

Mum-of-two Miss Griffiths, who lives in Colchester, said: “I can’t believe he got a caution. I’m honestly lost for words.

“He kicked me several times and I fell to the ground – how do you get a caution for that?”

The healthcare assistant added: “The police only took my statement 11 hours after the assault and I had a head injury and bruising.

“I was shocked by the caution. They [the police] basically said to me it would be too costly and time-consuming [for a prosecution].”

A caution is generally given out by police as an alternative to prosecution for minor crimes or when a full prosecution isn’t appropriate.

Colchester MP Will Quince called the situation a “disgrace” and vowed to raise the issue with Essex Police Chief Inspector Stephen Kavanagh.

He added: “On the face of it, this is totally unacceptable.

“We need to make it clear to everybody that this sort of of behaviour is totally unacceptable and people should be able to enjoy the night time economy without fear and we should be coming down hard on those who act in this disgraceful way.”

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: “A man has been given a caution following an assault in Colchester.

“Police were called to reports a woman was assaulted on High Street at 12.50am on Saturday, September 24.

“It was reported a man had approached the woman, kicked her several times, causing her to fall to the floor. She sustained bruising.

“A man, 22 and from Colchester, was then arrested on suspicion of assault and also on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

“He was later given a caution for the assault on the woman. He will face no further action over the assault of a police officer.”