A gang of teenagers threatened to stab a promising footballer before seizing his bike in a shocking daylight robbery.
Connor Brown was walking through Liverpool city centre with his girlfriend when a group of around eight boys targeted the couple.
His dad, Greig, today urged anyone with information to contact police as he sought to raise awareness of the incident.
Connor was with his girlfriend at around 5.15pm on October 7 when he was stopped by the gang near the McDonald's branch on Lord Street.
The 18-year-old, from Norris Green, was told he would be stabbed if he did not give up his bike. While he fought to keep hold of it, the group eventually wrestled it from him.
Army veteran Greig told the ECHO: "I'm quite angry someone would threaten my son with a knife. I want to let the public know what is going on so this stuff doesn't happen again. My son has never been in trouble with police - he's a great lad and he's got his head into football in a big way.
"I'm still angry myself and I feel like I've let him down somehow."
The loss of the bike is more poignant now the Liverpool City Region has entered a period of heightened restrictions intended to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Greig and Connor, an Everton fan hoping to coach football in North America, had spent much of the initial lockdown period biking around the city and then in the Lakes and North Wales.
Greig said those day trips had now been "taken away" from them.
The robbery is being investigated by Merseyside Police.
The force said: "One of the males is described as white, around 17 years old, 6ft tall, with blonde hair. He was wearing a grey North Face coat and a black and white coloured bandanna covering half of his face.
"A second male is described as mixed race, around 5ft 8in tall and around 17-years-old. He was wearing a navy blue coloured bubble coat and navy blue tracksuit bottoms, with a dark coloured shoulder-strap bag.
"The rest of the group are described as mixed race males, around 17-years-old and wearing dark clothing."
CCTV images have been obtained and enquiries are underway, the force added.
Detective Inspector Sean Kelly-Martland said: “We are carrying out a number of enquiries including exploring CCTV opportunities following this shocking incident, and would ask anyone who witnessed any suspicious behaviour, a group of males fitting the description, or a black ‘Specialized’ bike with white stripes and lettering, to please get in touch.
“We know the city centre would’ve been busy at the time of the incident so please come forward if you have information to assist our investigation.”
*Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 101 or reaching the force on Twitter (via @MerPolCC), quoting reference: 20000607772. You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111
