A father said he was “absolutely mortified and disgusted” after his six-year-old son was left traumatised after being threatened by an off-duty police officer in a park.

Lee Flitcroft, who lives off Wanstead Park Avenue in Aldersbrook, was in Wanstead Park at around 5pm on April 14, after just having bought an ice cream from the Tea Hut for his son Callum.

On his new mountain bike, Callum was cycling towards the exit when a couple walking their dog spoke to him.

Mr Flitcroft said: “Callum was crying his eyes out.

"I asked him what the matter was and he said the man told him he would push him off his bike if he came any nearer his dog.

“I ran down to confront the man and he repeated the same threat about my son.

“I couldn’t believe it, it was a new bike with brakes working perfectly well and he was not going to run over the dog.

“I said I was going to phone the police but his partner then shouted that he is the police, at which point he shouted her name and told her to be quiet.”

Yesterday Mr Flitcroft received confirmation from the police that an internal investigation had uncovered who the officer was.

Mr Flitcrift was also told he would be informed of the standards committee’s decision on the incident within the week.

Callum is said to have been left traumatised by the incident and his father has called for an apology.

Mr Flitcroft said: “I called the police and they came over and interviewed my son and took a crime reference number.

“It took them three weeks to track down who it was.

"I hope to get an apology because Callum was really affected by the event.

“He does not want to go on his mountain bike, eat ice creams or go to the park.”