This time 10 years ago Alan Barnes' simple existence was turned upside down when he was mugged outside his Gateshead home. The attack, by callous thief Richard Gatiss, left frail Alan terrified. Today a decade on from the attack, and the mammoth fundraising effort that followed, Alan has told the Chronicle how he is still recognised in the street. And the year-old has admitted that while Gatiss' actions transformed his life, he no longer thinks about the attack.
Alan said: "I don't think about him or the attack. You hear of a lot of other stuff that's much worse. It was nothing compared to some other things. I got to know a lot of new people. I'm very thankful for what I got so I'm putting back in what I can. Alan was born with a series of defects, including height and growth problems, after his mum contracted German measles during pregnancy.
His disabilities mean he is registered blind, stands at just 4ft 6ins and weighs less than six stone. Alan, however went on to live an independent life and was well-known around Low Fell in Gateshead, where he still lives. Alan was moving the wheelie bin outside his bungalow, on Hillside Place in Low Fell, on the evening of Sunday, January 25 when Gatiss appeared out of the darkness.
Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter. The drug addict pushed frail Alan to the ground before rifling through his coat pockets looking for cash. But Gatiss fled empty-handed when Alan began shouting for help. And the victim, who suffered a broken collar bone when he hit the ground, then struggled to a neighbour's home to get help.
Days later, Alan relived his ordeal in an exclusive interview with the Chronicle , in which he revealed how the attack had left him afraid to return to the bungalow he had once called home. Our article sparked anger and outrage across the region and beyond as readers struggled to comprehend how such a vulnerable man could be targeted in this way.
