A 77-year-old disabled pensioner, Alan Barnes, still remembers the day his life was forever altered.
Ten years ago, he was brutally attacked outside his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, leaving him with a broken collarbone and deeply shaken.
This brutal mugging, which was carried out by drug dealer Richard Gatiss, would prove to be a turning point in Alan’s life, one that he’s still coping with to this day.
The Mugging That Shattered Alan’s Independence
Alan, standing at just 4ft6in, has lived with complex disabilities for most of his life, a result of his mother contracting German measles during pregnancy.
Despite being registered as blind, Alan had managed to live an independent life—until that fateful day when Richard Gatiss attacked him.
Alan had been outside moving his bins when Gatiss pushed him to the ground and tried to steal from him.
Though Gatiss left empty-handed after Alan called for help from neighbors, the damage had already been done.
The attack left Alan physically and emotionally scarred, and Gatiss was eventually sentenced to four years in prison.
The Community’s Response and Unexpected Support
In the aftermath of the attack, a local beautician named Katie Cutler, then just 21 years old, launched a fundraising campaign to help Alan.
The campaign quickly gained traction, raising an incredible £330,000.
Alan used the funds to purchase his own home, something he had never been able to do before.
The money helped him secure several house moves over the years, although Alan’s struggle to find a home he felt comfortable in continued.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Alan has expressed his gratitude for the support he received and says it helped him connect with many new people.
A Friendship Born from Tragedy and Its Unforeseen Consequences
Alan and Katie’s bond grew strong after the mugging, and they appeared together on various television shows, vowing to remain lifelong friends.
Katie was even awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015 for her efforts.
However, their friendship eventually drifted apart, and the financial challenges Katie faced after helping Alan were significant.
She had hired a PR firm to help with fundraising and establishing a charity, but this led to a nearly £7,000 bill, which Katie struggled to pay.
The charity she had hoped to launch failed to materialize, and she found herself in significant debt.
In 2016, she was ordered to repay £6,200 to a PR consultant after losing a legal case.
A Reflection on Life After the Attack
Though Alan’s life was drastically changed by the attack, he now reflects on it with a sense of acceptance.
“It did change my life,” he says, acknowledging the overwhelming support he received and the friendships that followed.
Yet, Alan remains grounded, emphasizing that his experiences of abuse and hardship are far from over.
He continues to live in Low Fell, having bought and sold multiple homes in an effort to find a place where he can truly feel at home.
Despite the ups and downs, Alan remains thankful for the people who helped him and is determined to give back in any way he can.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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