One Direction's Louis Tomlinson pleads for son's privacy amid custody battle

One Direction star Louis Tomlinson wants his son Freddie Reign to have a "normal" childhood.

The 24-year-old singer, who has filed for 50/50 physical and legal custody over his five-month-old child he had with his ex-girlfriend Briana Jungwirth, has revealed he wants strict action to be taken to protect his baby, and himself, from "intolerable" paparazzi since the court case has begun, reported People magazine.

"[Louis wants] to have a normal, private and protected childhood. The levels of paparazzi attention on Freddie... are intolerable and completely unjustifiable," according to a statement by a spokesperson for Tomlinson.

The musician, who reached a temporary custody agreement in February with Jungwirth, allowing him to see Freddie for several hours at a time with no overnight visits, has been dissatisfied by the lack of time he spends with his brood, which he believes has been impinged on by the attention he has received since the case opened.

Tomlinson, however, hopes the media will understand his request at this difficult time. "Louis appreciates, respects and values his relationship with the media and we hope he and his son are afforded the same respect on this matter," the representative said.