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Drug addict jailed for mugging pensioner Alan Barnes

Richard Gatiss has been jailed for four years at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting assault with intent to rob Alan Barnes outside his home in Gateshead. Newcastle Crown Court heard Gatiss was desperate for money to buy so-called legal highs when he tried to mug the 4ft 6in pensioner.

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Alan Barnes fundraiser breaks down in tears after sentencing

The 21-year-old fundraiser, Katie Cutler, broke down in tears today after receiving the news Alan Barnes' attacker was sentenced to four years after admitting trying to mug the visually-impaired pensioner.

Katie Cutler, who raised over £300,000 for Alan Barnes (right), breaks down in tears after hearing the news that Richard Gatiss was sentenced to 4 years after admitting trying to mug the visually-impaired pensioner.

Richard Gatiss was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for assault with intent to rob.

Ms Cutler's online fundraising campaign raised more than £330,000 to help relocate Mr Barnes after he was attacked outside his home in Low Fell, Gateshead.

She has now launched a new charity, The Katie Cutler Foundation, which hopes to raise £1million and help at least 20 people through “Acts Of Kindness.”

Alan Barnes hopes attacker will 'do some thinking' in prison

Alan Barnes has welcomed the jail term handed to his attacker today and said he hopes the 25-year-old would "do some thinking" while in prison.

Richard Gatiss was jailed for four years at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting mugging the 67-year-old pensioner outside his home in Gateshead earlier this year.

Barnes suffered a broken collarbone in the attack and was too frightened to return to his home.

Today he said his injuries have almost fully healed and that he had found a new home in Gateshead he wanted to buy with money raised by well-wishers through a fundraising appeal set up by hairdresser Katie Butler.

I'm pleased he's been sentenced and I think the sentence of four years is just about the right length."

I hope while he's in prison he'll do some thinking and when he comes out he'll do something useful. Maybe he might decide to help people, which I think would be a good idea for him.

It's sad that he was brought to the stage of doing something like this - not necessarily just me, it could have been anybody and they might not have got over the incident.

But I've moved on, I'm doing something else now, I'm working as an ambassador for the Katie Cutler Foundation, and we're hoping that the public will support us and we're also asking businesses to donate to the foundation so we can help a lot more people."

– Alan Barnes

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Alan Barnes' attacker 'caught by DNA on victim's jacket'

Police have welcomed the sentencing of a drug addict who mugged pensioner Alan Barnes.

Richard Gatiss was caught after police retrieved DNA from a pocket on his victim's jacket, a court has heard earlier.

Richard Gatiss.

Richard Gatiss, from Gateshead, ran off empty-handed when Mr Barnes called for help during the attack.

Superintendent Richard Jackson has said:

We welcome the sentencing of Richard Gattis and this should send a message out to those criminals who think it is acceptable to target the vulnerable.

It was down to the excellent work of detectives that we managed to forensically link Gattis to the incident and ultimately bring him to justice.

I'd like to thank the public for their help and support throughout the investigation and I hope that today's proceedings bring some closure to Alan and his family."

– Superintendent Richard Jackson, Northumbria Police

Sentencing the 25-year-old at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Paul Sloan QC said: "I have no doubt he was picked on by you because of his vulnerability.

Alan Barnes attacker jailed for four years

Alan Banres. Credit: ITV News

The man who attacked disabled pensioner Alan Barnes has been sentenced to four years in jail. Richard Gatiss admitted assaulting Mr Barnes with the intention of robbing him.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Gatiss recognised Mr Barnes from growing up in Gateshead - and targeted him because he was vulnerable.

Richard Gatiss. Credit: ITV News

The defence said that Gatiss "was not a monster" but that he was driven by his addiction to legal highs. Gatiss initially denied attacking Mr Barnes, describing it as "sick and disgusting".

When presented with DNA evidence, Gatiss tried to pretend a man had threatened him with a knife and made him rob Mr Barnes. But eventually he admitted the crime.

Well-wishers raised £330,000 for the pensioner within days of the assault, which left Mr Barnes scared to return to his home.

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