Drug addict weeps as lawyers say they will argue attack on Alan Barnes was a hate crime
A DRUG addict wept in court today as lawyers said they will argue he attacked frail pensioner Alan Barnes out of hostility towards the disabled.
Disabled Mr Barnes, who is just 4ft 6in tall and weighs only six stone, suffered a broken collar bone after he was knocked to the ground outside his home in Gateshead, Tyne on Ware, on January 25.
His terrifying ordeal saw an online appeal raise over £330,000 in donations from around the world.
The prosecution will now say that Richard Gatiss, who pleaded guilty last month to assault with intent to rob, deliberately targeted his visually-impaired victim.
Nick Dry, prosecuting, said the attacker struck in an area of sheltered accommodation for disabled and elderly people and that he made a partial admission to police that he knew of Mr Barnes prior to the attack.
He also said that, in Mr Barnes' opinion, he was attacked due to his disability.
Mr Dry added that if it was agreed that Gatiss deliberately targeted Mr Barnes, then "it can be inferred there is a general hostility towards people of disability".
Judge Paul Sloan QC felt the claim of a general hostility towards disabled people was "hollow" and that the aggravating circumstances would be factored into the sentencing exercise regardless.
He added that prosecution must bring forward evidence to back up their claims within a week.
Gatiss, 25, from Gateshead, appeared distraught and sat hunched in his chair as he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court today via a video link from Durham Prison.
He was told by Judge Sloan at the end of the brief hearing that he would continue to be remanded in custody and that "an immediate sentence of imprisonment is pretty well inevitable".
It had previously been heard in court that Gatiss' actions were motivated by needing money to buy so-called legal highs.
After hearing about Mr Barnes' horrific 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.
Mr Barnes has lived with disabilities since birth after his mother contracted German measles while pregnant with him.
Gatiss will be sentenced on April 2.
