Man Who Mugged Disabled Pensioner Is Jailed

The man who mugged disabled pensioner Alan Barnes, sparking a charity campaign that raised £330,000, has been jailed.
Richard Gatiss was sentenced to four years in prison by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.
The 25-year-old drug addict pushed Mr Barnes over as he put out the bins, breaking his collar bone. He was trying to get money to buy legal highs when he carried out the mugging, but ran off empty handed.
Judge Paul Sloan QC said: "I have no doubt he was picked on by you because of his vulnerability.
"It was on any view a despicable offence."
Gatiss, from Gateshead, was caught after analysis of DNA evidence from the pocket of Mr Barnes's jacket.
Mr Barnes was too scared to return to his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, and has said he will buy a new house with the money raised online.


The fund was started by beautician Katie Cutler, 21, who initially set a target of £500 to buy new carpets and curtains.

Mr Barnes' disabilities were caused when his mother contracted German measles while she was pregnant.
After he was arrested, Gatiss denied being involved in the mugging, saying he had been brought up better than that, but then later claimed a knifeman made him do it.
When he was challenged, he confessed. Prosecutor Nick Dry said: "He said he wanted money to buy legal highs to which he had become addicted, then breaking down, he was distressed at what he had done."
Jamie Adams, defending, said that Gatiss had recently been diagnosed with epilepsy and that his medication when mixed with legal highs would have a "deleterious effect".
He added that publicity surrounding the case had made Gatiss "the subject of some pretty awful double-standard behaviour" from other inmates.
He said: "Life is not easy for him. He is going to be in the public glare for a long time to come and he knows that.
"There is a lot for him to deal with."
After the sentencing, Mr Barnes said he hoped Gatiss would "do some thinking" while he was in prison.
He said: "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."
Mr Barnes added that his injuries have now virtually healed and he has found a new house in Low Fell that he hopes to buy.