After more than seven weeks, police are nearing a decision on whether they will charge an Otago policeman accused of a serious assault at a party.
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old woman he allegedly attacked has left her home town and is disgusted the policeman has continued working since the incident.
She told the Otago Daily Times she had moved away to live with a relative because she was so scared of bumping into the officer.
The woman said she had never met him before the gathering on July 15 but had since learnt he lived 10 minutes from her house.
She had had to return to the town because she shared custody of a child but going back had been a stressful experience.
Southern district Superintendent Paul Basham confirmed the officer had been working since the allegations emerged.
The complainant said it had made her feel as though she had been forced from her home.
''They're treating me like I'm not the victim,'' she said.
''I feel like I'm getting the bad treatment and he's living a normal life.''
Dunedin officers investigating the case had allegedly told her ''he's got a life to live''.
The woman was attending a fancy dress birthday party in a small town when the alleged assault took place.
She said her assailant, who was donning a wig at the time, smashed her face into the bonnet of a car before dragging her down a driveway on her front.
There had been an incident with some friends earlier, and she said the officer had followed her to her car.
She described him as ''really nice and calm'' but had filmed him with her phone because she was alone and did not know who he was.
When the woman told him later, she said the man flipped.
During the alleged attack, the complainant said, he told her he was ''a cop'' and showed her his police identification.
In a brief statement to the ODT, Supt Basham said the investigation into the long-serving officer was ''in it's final stages''.
The file would then be sent to a police legal team in Wellington, which would review the decision.
The complainant said she had nightmares about her ordeal and constantly felt on edge.
''I've never felt so scared in my life. I couldn't defend myself. All I had was my voice,'' she said.
''I've never been in a position where I couldn't defend myself. It was horrible.''
Now her moods were up and down.
''I was talking to someone the other day and broke down crying,'' she said
''I don't know who to trust.''
Though police had given the complainant no indication over whether charges would be laid, she was optimistic.
''I just hope they're doing their job,'' she said.
The ODT has opted not to name the officer, the complainant or where the alleged incident took place.
