A YOUNG boy has made a heartbreaking plea asking people to stop abusing his dad because of his disability.

Dean Warwick, 30, has limited mobility due to his conditions, which include Spina Bifida and Snapping Hip Syndrome, and relies on sticks to walk for short distances, or specially adapted items like his hand cycle.

However, horrific abuse since the start of lockdown, including a van swerving straight towards the dad-of-two, has left him without the confidence to ride alongside his son, ten-year-old Lucca.

Lucca was so upset by the abuse that he posted a TikTok video, urging people to leave his dad alone so the pair could continue to enjoy their bike rides.

Mr Warwick said: "He did it off his own back and you could see the pain in his eyes.

"I was out riding with him through Little Lever when this guy in a van just decided to swerve towards me, before driving away laughing.

"It was really scary for him, he was behind me so for him it looked like someone was trying to run his dad over.

"He can't understand why people would be like that, I'm not his disabled dad, I'm his dad, it hurts him to see things like this and it's going to affect him in a big way.

"For him to take to his own TikTok it must be playing on his mind."

Mr Warwick and his son will often ride their bikes together, as it is one of the few activities that the pair can enjoy completely uninhibited.

Now, the attacks made against him have knocked his confidence, leaving him ready to sell the specially adapted bike to avoid similar incidents.

In the 54 second video, Lucca begs people to stop their insults and hatred, so that the pair can continue to ride together.

Mr Warwick added: "It's the first time I've ever experienced discrimination like that, I see it every day but not from a place of hatred like this.

"Since we've been in lockdown, people have been more vindictive.

"I've had two lads who walked past me whilst I was on my bike who said 'can you not use a normal bike you effing mong', and when I was coming out of a shop the other day a guy asked me if I was alright, which I thought was a genuine question, before he started swearing and told me I didn't look it.

"Once I'm in that bike I'm defenceless, and sometimes it's not worth speaking up against the comments in case it makes things worse."

"There's a massive ignorance, and it's really bad at the moment, it's coming from all different walks of life, not just teens but fully grown adults, you'd think they'd know better.

"I probably won't sell the bike now but I've got to find the confidence to get back out there.

"I don't think the abuse will ever go away but it's just about making sure people are more educated."