Man in court over assault on disabled Gateshead pensioner
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Version 0 of 1. A 25-year-old man has appeared in court charged with assaulting a disabled pensioner. Alan Barnes suffered a broken collarbone in the incident in Gateshead on 25 January, prompting an internet campaign which raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for him. Richard Gatiss, from Gateshead, is charged with assault with intent to rob. Gateshead magistrates court heard that he allegedly approached Barnes as he placed his recycling bin outside. Keith Laidlaw, prosecuting, said Barnes alleged that he felt a hand in his pocket and a voice demanding money. He said the 67-year-old was then pushed to the ground but was able to pull himself up and knocked on a neighbour’s door. Since then, Laidlaw said, the case had received not just local but international publicity. Chair of the bench, Sue Eltringham, said the case would be sent to the crown court and remanded Gatiss in custody. After the attack outside his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, 4ft 6in visually impaired Barnes has been left too frightened to go back. An online appeal to help him was set up by beautician Katie Cutler, who said she initially hoped to raise £500 to help him buy new curtains and carpets. But instead, her act of kindness went global, with hundreds of thousands of pounds pouring in as well as offers of free help from local tradesmen. The fund was eventually halted by Barnes’s family with donations standing at more than £329,000. A fund was also set up by well-wishers to thank 21-year-old Cutler for the consideration she showed Barnes and she has said she will give the £1,500 raised to charity. |