Thug who mugged defenceless disabled pensioner Alan Barnes pleads GUILTY to assault

PENSIONER Alan Barnes was assaulted by a drug user who needed cash to fund his habit, a court has heard.

Alan Barnes (left) and Richard Gatiss (right)NORTH NEWS

Richard Gatiss (left) and Alan Barnes with Katie Cutler (right)

Richard Gatiss today pleaded guilty to assaulting the 67-year-old, whose terrifying ordeal saw on online appeal raise over £330,000 in global donations.

Disabled Mr Barnes was knocked to the ground as he was putting the bins outside his home in Gateshead, Tyne on Ware, on January 25.

The 67-year-old, who is just 4ft 6in tall and weighs only six stone, was then told to "hand over your money" by Gatiss but Mr Barnes replied that he had none.

He suffered a broken collar bone after he fell to the floor and callous Gatiss ran off as the stricken pensioner shouted for help.

Gatiss, 25, from Gateshead, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court today via video-link from Durham Prison and pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob.

He also said he was "deeply ashamed" of his actions, which the court heard had previously heard were motivated by needing money for drugs.

alan barnes and katie cutlerNORTH NEWS

Mr Barnes and Katie Cutler

At a previous hearing, details which could not be reported on were revealed, including that Gatiss was a user of so-called legal highs at the time of the assault.

Gatiss was also not given bail on that occasion for his own safety, the previous hearing heard.

Prosecutor Keith Laidlaw told the hearing at Gateshead Magistrates' Court: "Legal highs played their part in this.

"There is also possession of cannabis on his record and there is a drugs background."

He wishes me to say at this stage that he is shocked, horrified and deeply ashamed at what he did

Jamie Adams, defending Richard Gatiss

The attack was motivated by a need for money for drugs, the previous hearing was told.

Gatiss was eventually traced by Northumbria Police detectives after they recovered forensic evidence on Mr Barnes' jacket pocket.

At the Crown Court, Jamie Adams, defending, said his client denied prosecution claims that the attack was motivated by hostility towards Mr Barnes.

Mr Adams added: "He wishes me to say at this stage that he is shocked, horrified and deeply ashamed at what he did.

"He has not stopped thinking about Mr Barnes since this awful deed.

"He is conscious of being in the public eye and everyone not just gazing at him but glaring at him."

Judge Paul Sloan QC, the Recorder of Newcastle, adjourned the case to allow reports to be prepared but warned Gatiss that a jail sentence was likely.

Remanding him in custody, he said: "You will appreciate that an immediate custodial sentence is pretty well inevitable in the circumstances."

alan barnesNCJ MEDIA

Mr Barnes suffered a broken collar bone

After hearing about Mr Barnes' terrifying ordeal, 21-year-old beautician Katie Cutler started an online donation page to raise money for the partially-sighted pensioner.

The appeal had a modest target of £500, but donations from around the globe soon saw the GoFundMe page reach an incredible £330,135.

The disabled pensioner was handed his cheque earlier this month and said he planned on spending some of his new-found wealth on a home close to kindhearted Ms Cutler.

Speaking at the cheque handover, he said: "I am still overwhelmed with the money.

"I'm just an ordinary person and I don't have money like this. Seeing the cheque today does make it a bit more of a reality."

Ms Cutler, who also lives in Gateshead, added: "It would be lovely if Alan moved near me. There are some great houses with nice gardens that you can use your gardening skills in.

"He can also come over to mine for BBQ's and stuff in the summer."

Mr Barnes has lived with disabilities since birth after his mother contracted German measles while pregnant with him.

Gatiss will be sentenced at a later date.

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