Man pleads guilty to mugging Alan Barnes

The woman who's fundraising efforts raised more than £330,000 for Gateshead attack victim Alan Barnes has started a new charity to try to help many more people.

Katie Cutler began her online campaign because she was so shocked about that attack on Alan, a frail disabled pensioner.

The Katie Cutler Foundation was announced today on ITV's This Morning:

The woman who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for attack victim Alan Barnes said she forgives his attacker.

Katie Cutler founded the fundraising page for Barnes, who broke his collarbone in the assault, and received £330,000 of donations.

Richard Gatiss has admitted mugging the 4ft 6ins pensioner while taking legal highs. He has been warned he may face a jail sentence.

Richard Gatiss, 25, from Gateshead, has pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to assault with intent to rob disabled pensioner Alan Barnes.

A fundraising campaign raised more than £300,000 to help him.

The disabled pensioner Alan Barnes who was mugged outside of his home in Gateshead has said receiving the £330,000 cheque was “like a fairy story”.

The 4ft 6in visually impaired pensioner was the guest ofhonour at a glitzy event at Newcastle Assembly Rooms, organised by his new friend Katie Cutler, the 21-year-old who started the fundraising campaign that went global.

Mr Barnes, 67, was left too scared to return home and the online fundraiser raised £330,000 before stopping – leaving him with enough to buy a new home.

A 25-year-old man has appeared in court this week charged with assault with intent to rob.

At the presentation event he said:

He plans to buy a house near Ms Cutler in Greenside, Gateshead, but is waiting for his bone to heal before he starts hunting. He said he will also undertake charity work with the money.

Of his recovery, he said:

Alan spoke modestly of his painful break, simply calling it an"inconvenience" and went on to say that he didn't think people would fundraise for him.

When she set up the fund for Mr Barnes her aim was to raise £500 to pay for new curtains and carpets if he moved house. She thanked the media for helping her campaigns and will now take stock of what has happened to her in the last fortnight.

Fundraising for Gateshead mugging victim Alan Barnes will be celebrated at a gala ball at Newcastle's Assembly Rooms this evening.

A cheque for £330,135 will be officially handed over later.

A scam fundraising page for Alan Barnes, the disabled pensioner who had more than £300k raised for him after he was mugged outside his home in Gateshead, has now been closed.

The duplicate page listed Katie Cutler, the creator of the first fundraising effort, as the organiser, but she denied any involvement.

The crowd-funding page also spelled Mr. Barnes' name wrongly.

YouCaring closed the page today, February 9, after being contacted by ITV News Tyne Tees and other parties.

Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £5,000 for information on the attempted robbery of disabled Gateshead man, Alan Barnes.

Mr Barnes was approached by a man who was demanding money on January 25. The 67-year-old was moving his wheelie bin from the side of his property, on Low Fell, to the front of the house. He was pushed to the ground and suffered a broken collarbone.

As a result of the attempted robbery, Alan is living with his sister and does not feel able to return to his home.

The Charity is now offering a reward of up to £5,000 for information passed through Crimestoppers’ anonymous 0800 555 111 number that leads to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.