A MOTHER has hit out after police “bungled” an investigation into an incident in which a motorist allegedly drove towards her daughter on a York pavement.

The Acomb woman said she and her 12-year-old daughter felt “totally let down” by the police officer’s error.

North Yorkshire Police have admitted the officer failed to issue a “notice of intended prosecution” (NIP), which had ruled out any possible charge of dangerous driving.

A spokeswoman said the officer had subsequently received “management advice” as well as “entering a programme of professional development,” and said that as soon as the issue was raised, a robust review was put in place to ensure all avenues of investigation were pursued.

“A number of charges were explored in relation to the incident and the lack of a notice of intended prosecution affected just one of those charges,” she said.

“For the remaining charges, there was not enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.”

She said the force was grateful to the mother for highlighting her concerns, and added a senior officer had now visited her to explain the situation.

The mother said: “I feel totally helpless that anything can now happen to my daughter, as I believe he has got away with this incident because of the police negligence in failing to follow proper procedures.”

The mother said her daughter had been rollerblading along a pavement in Acomb with a nine-year-old friend when a man, whose family was in dispute with hers, drove across the road and on to the pavement.

She alleged he drove towards her daughter, but then swerved away from her at the last minute, leaving the girls frightened. She said: “My daughter’s very angry that the investigation was botched, and worried something similar might happen again.”

She said police had told her the man had denied being the driver of the vehicle and, because he was not served with an NIP within 14 days, he had no obligation to supply police with any documentation regarding the purchase, insurance or ownership of the vehicle.

Jonathan Heath, district crown prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service in North Yorkshire, said having carefully considered the evidence provided from North Yorkshire Police, it did not feel there was a realistic prospect of conviction.

“We have therefore advised North Yorkshire Police that no charges should be brought against the individual concerned,” he said.