A teenager was reportedly threatened by a man who accused him of faking his disability on his way to school.
Elliott Heap was travelling to his GCSE revision class at Liverpool Life Sciences UTC on Wednesday, April 20, when he was approached by the man on St Anne Street in Liverpool City Centre at around 9.30am. The 15-year-old, from Ainsdale, was diagnosed with ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, in February last year - a condition which can affect his balance and leaves him feeling dizzy, meaning he needs crutches to get around.
Mum Sandra Heap, 54, told the ECHO: "He was just walking through on his way to UTC and this gentleman suddenly started shouting at him saying 'you don't need those crutches.' Elliot carried on walking and the gentleman then chased at him, kicked one of the crutches out of his hand and then flew at him.
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"Elliott said he stepped back and the gentleman was screaming at him. He said 'I'm going to kill you. I'm going to murder you if I see you again.'"
"He would usually get a taxi provided by his school from the train station. I said 'it's such a lovely day, because you're going into school later' - he didn't need to go until 10am - 'do you think you could manage a very slow walk?' And he said 'I'll try and I'll do it mum.'
Sandra said man didn't physically abuse Elliott but kicked his crutches out of his hand twice and continued to shout threats at him as he walked away. Elliott reported the incident to Merseyside Police before carrying on to his revision day. He described the man as having a beard and said he was wearing shorts and a black cap.
When he got home that night, Sandra said: "I was shocked as I could hear the upset in his voice as he's describing what happened to him. He just couldn't believe in this day and age that somebody could have a vetted hatred towards someone that's showing a disability considering he was able bodied up to February last year - up until then he was doing 60/70 mile bike rides for a cycling club and doing half marathons.
"He was so able bodied and now he's having to use crutches. He said what was more shocking to him was that he couldn't believe the hatred people have because of someone looking a little bit different."
