A VULNERABLE teenage boy was filmed being thrown to the ground and punched by two young thugs who stole his prized bicycle.

Tom Adams, 13, was on his way home from St Helena School, in Colchester, when he was set upon by two boys.

Tom’s mum Gemma Adams said the pair had called out to her son by an underpass in Sheepen Road, Colchester.

She said Tom, who uses his bike to get to and from school, told the boys he “wanted to go home”, but one of them punched him in the face.

He was pushed to the ground and punched a further five times.

“From a video of the incident, there are two boys who were involved,” she said.

“One of them was quite a bit older than him.

“He’s been thrown around like a ragdoll by the bigger lad.

“He was too scared to fight back and get his bike – as he’s turned around the bigger lad had his bike in his hand, he said ‘We’ve got your bike’ and started laughing.

“He didn’t go back for it, he was too scared.”

Gemma said her son was left distraught by the theft of his bike and suffered red marks as a result of the punches.

“It’s completely knocked the life out of him,” she said.

“He’s normally quite a cheeky little boy, he’s a character, but since then he has lost his personality.

After the mugging, which took place at about 3.10pm on Wednesday, April 14, an outpouring of goodwill has led to strangers and friends raising more than £900 to buy Tom a new bike.

But his family are hoping his treasured Carrera Vengeance mountain bike can be found and returned.

He has lovingly upgraded the bike, installing new brakes worth £300 alone thanks to a Christmas present.

Tom, who has ADHD and is awaiting an autism diagnosis, has struggled to speak out after falling foul of bullies at school.

“His bike is hugely important to him,” said Gemma.

“It’s his transport to school, but at the weekend we also go to bike routes and parks so he can go mountain biking.

“They’ve taken away his confidence.”

To support the campaign, visit gofundme.com/f/help-replacethis-lads-stolen-bike.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 and quote crime reference number 42/70198/21.

A police spokesman said: "Another boy has been spoken to officers as part of the investigation and our enquiries are ongoing."

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