An autistic little boy was left humiliated when a shopkeeper allegedly told him he was “mental”.

Adam Rafique was with his mother, Kishwar, and brother, Haydar, seven, picking out chocolate at the 7-11 in High Street, Wanstead, when he told he was being banned from the store.

The shop owners, Mr and Mrs Ray, deny this ever happened – saying they did not brand him “mental” and they were not told he had autism.

But the 10-year-old’s mother maintains her version of events, saying Adam was deciding between a Kit Kat or Maltesers when Mr Ray asked him to stop touching the packets.

Quickly, Mrs Rafique, 37, says she apologised and explained he has autism – but she claims he replied: “I don’t care if he’s mental. I don’t want him in my shop.”

Mr Ray is then alleged to have continued: “Your mental son is banned from my shop.”

The family then broke down in tears as another shopper, who said he works with adults with autism, tried to calm the situation.

Mrs Rafique told the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian: “He then turned to my son and told him: ‘you don’t even listen to your mum.’ I was heartbroken.

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