Disabled mugging victim Alan Barnes moving house for FIFTH time since well-wishers gave him £330k
DISABLED mugging victim Alan Barnes is moving house for the fifth time since well-wishers gave him £330,000 following the sickening attack.
The frail 71-year-old, who broke his collar bone in the shocking 2015 assault, has been in his plush three bedroom new-build since November 2017.
But he has said he wants to sell the house and move into a bungalow instead.
He bought the detached property, which overlooks Saltwell Park in Gateshead, for £244,950 but is now flogging it for £230,000.
An online fund set up by single mum Katie Cutler raised £330,000 to remove him from the house where he was shoved over by mugger Richard Gattis while putting out the bins.
But Alan has never been able to settle and has moved house frequently over the years – making a loss with each sale.
It is estimated he will have lost a total of £69,950 of his donated money after his latest move – which will be his fifth.
‘IT’S WHO I AM’
He said: “Moving is just part of who I am, I don’t like how long I have to walk to the shops, especially when it’s raining. I don’t like getting wet.
“I would like a bungalow but I haven’t found anything suitable yet. I’ll just be staying here until I find something else.
“This is a nice light house, but it’s quite quiet. You don’t really see anyone.”
After launching the fund, Katie became embroiled in a bitter legal row over funds she owed PR Claire Barber,which Alan then offered to help pay off.
He used the donations to buy a £150,000 two-bedroom Victorian terrace, in his native Low Fell, but struggled to settle in.
ON THE MOVE
Then Alan moved a mile down the road to a semi-detached two-bedroom property, which cost £115,000, but put it up for sale just two months later.
After a year on the market, Alan accepted an offer of just £78,000 so he could shift again.
Last year, the pensioner began renting a flat to “be free of the ties of a house” – but then decided to purchase the flash new-build through Miller homes.
All of the properties Alan has lived in have been within the a one mile area of Gateshead – where he is sure he will find his dream bungalow.
Alan, who has struggled with height and growth problems since birth and suffered a fall earlier this year, said: “You just have to take what life chucks at you.
“I have a plate in my leg now, but I don’t mind, it doesn’t hurt. It’s 10cm by 4cm and has one screw, or so they told me.
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“It bothers me more than what that lad did to me to be honest, but I forgave him a long time ago. It’s the Christian thing to do.
“I’ve always had a thing for houses, I like to pick and choose how the place looks. I’m quite particular, like I don’t like the tap in the kitchen. It’s no good.”
Gattis was jailed for four years after admitting assault with intent to rob. It is understood that Gattis was released from prison earlier this year.