An assault victim who suffered horrific facial injuries is appalled that his attacker was only given a caution by police.

Darren Carey, of Pembroke Dock, was attacked outside a local pub in the early hours of July 3rd last year.

His lip was split open to his nose, causing him to lose a lot of blood and leaving him with a scar.

An ambulance took him to Withybush Hospital and he was later sent to Morriston Hospital in Swansea to be stitched up by a specialist surgeon. A local man was arrested following the incident, but Mr Carey is angry that he was released on bail and given a caution, and the case was never sent to court.

He said: “I was shocked. After that night I felt there was nothing more to be done.

“I’m appalled by it all really, it’s just unbelievable.”

He is now planning to write to the superintendent about the issue.

The 31-year-old added that the incident had been distressing for his wife and three-year-old son.

He said: “My boy wouldn’t go near me at first, and I couldn’t even give him a kiss. It was also difficult to talk and eat for a few weeks.”

Mr Carey, who works as a chef, also suffered financial losses as a result of his injuries.

He said: “I couldn’t work for two weeks and had the expense of travelling to Morriston for several follow up appointments. “It all mounts up and I have had no compensation for it.”

He added: “I’m really hacked off about it all, it shouldn’t be like this.”

A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Cases with the potential to be resolved by way of caution are subject to additional scrutiny and two recent reviews confirm that our internal processes comply with national crime recording standards.

“As an added safeguard, cautions administered for the most serious, indictable offences are also scrutinised by the Crown Prosecution Service.”

The spokesman added: “The Professional Standards Department has not received a complaint as yet and police would be happy to speak to Mr Carey direct.”