Young robbers threatened to stab a teenage boy in a park and then snatched his new £500 mountain bike.
Finn Kinley-Morgan was punched in the face before the trio rode off on his Boardman Team bike which he'd just got for his 13th birthday.
The expensive gift was a treat for the youngster, who lost his mother to cancer last year.
Now his father, backed by police, has made an appeal to catch the 'bullies' who targeted his son and return the bike.
The crime happened as Finn was riding through Bruntwood Park in Cheadle , Stockport , on Sunday afternoon with two friends.
He was approached by three youths and one of them said 'give us your bike' and then 'if you don't give us your bike we will stab you'. No knife was seen.
His father had bought him the Boardman Team bike for £550 as a special treat for his 13th birthday in May.
The trio made off on the bike and later CCTV images captured three hooded figures walking through the park.
Although shocked, the Chorlton High School pupil didn't require any treatment. He sought refuge in a cafe inside the park and his dad and police were called.
Last year, Finn's mother Nicola died from a rare form of brain cancer. She was 44.
His dad Ceri Morgan, from Northenden , had warned his son not to resist if someone was threatening to take his new bike.
He told the M.E.N: "If you knew Finn you would be devastated for him. He is the kindest, warm-hearted, generous and loving boy you could ever wish to meet.
"He has had to endure so much watching his mum slowly decline in health over seven years from her incredibly rare brain tumour which was terminal from diagnosis.
"She would be so proud of the fact he had taken my advice about this very scenario and walked away from the bike as that can be replaced."
He criticised the 'bullies' who targeted his son and went on: "Acts like this are completely unacceptable. Finn was simply enjoying a ride on his bike! They have done untold damage to a wonderful human being that wouldn't harm a fly and I am gutted that I wasn't nearby to help."
Ceri obtained footage from the cafe inside the park which showed three masked youths and he shared them on Facebook in an attempt to catch the culprits and find the stolen bike.
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were called to the park following reports that three male offenders approached the group, hitting the victim in the face before taking his bike.
In Greater Manchester there were 1,016 knife crimes last year- the highest level since 2011. Only London and the West Midlands have more.
Anyone with information is asked to call GMP on 101 or alternatively ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
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