The dad of a teenager who was bottled in the face in the centre of Gravesend has hit out at police after they closed their investigation because they could not identify a suspect.

The man's son had been on a night out with friends when trouble broke out in front of them near McDonald's in New Road, during the early hours of one morning in September.

He was brutally attacked with a bottle by the man who had been causing trouble, but despite there being CCTV footage of the attack and the man running away from the scene, no one has ever been arrested.

WARNING: Graphic images below

His son, who had just turned 18, was left with horrific injuries to his face when the broken bottle went into his cheek just under his eye and has now been left with a permanent scar.

He was taken to Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, where he had his wounds stitched up.

At the time, his dad published the photos of his injuries to highlight town centre violence.

The dad, who works in the air conditioning businesses and lives in Dartford but didn’t want to be named, said: “I don’t know if it's the system, but I don’t think there was real detective work done by police on this one.

“Has the investigation been done properly?

“It seemed like the detective in the case didn’t care.

“We gave them witness names at the time and as far I know, not one of these people has been interviewed.”

However, police say as no one could identify the suspect, it was not possible to progress a prosecution.

The dad added: “I’ve seen CCTV footage of what happened and the attacker running away - why couldn’t that image have been put out to the press so perhaps someone could have identified him?

“I think a lot more could be done to try and identify the attacker, who was eastern European looking.

“I think they could have done more and should have struck while the iron was hot then they might have had a chance of catching him.

"It took about three weeks before he heard anything from them.

“Do the police do any detective work any more? The attacker is out there and can do it again.

“We have had to move on now and my son has recovered, he won’t let this get the better of him."

Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Moss, of Kent Police, said: “Following an assault of an 18-year-old man in Gravesend High Street, between 2.45am and 3am on September 9, Kent Police conducted a thorough review of all available evidence.

"The investigation included an analysis of CCTV and checking for forensic opportunities.

"However, these inquiries were unable to identify a suspect."

A victim statement was taken but witnesses to the incident were also unable to identify a suspect.

“As no suspect had been identified, it was not possible to progress a prosecution.

“Once all lines of inquiry were exhausted the case was filed, however, Kent Police will respond to any new evidence becoming available.

"The victim was kept informed on the investigation’s progress throughout and the reasons for the case being filed have been explained to them.”