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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/02/man-jailed-four-years-assault-disabled-pensioner-alan-barnes
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| Man jailed for four years for assault on disabled pensioner Alan Barnes | Man jailed for four years for assault on disabled pensioner Alan Barnes |
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| A man has been jailed for four years for assaulting the disabled pensioner Alan Barnes during an attempted robbery. | A man has been jailed for four years for assaulting the disabled pensioner Alan Barnes during an attempted robbery. |
| Richard Gatiss, 25, pushed Barnes, 67, to the floor, breaking his collar bone, while trying to get money for legal highs. | Richard Gatiss, 25, pushed Barnes, 67, to the floor, breaking his collar bone, while trying to get money for legal highs. |
| People moved by his plight raised £330,000 for Barnes, who is 4ft 6in and visually impaired, within days of the attack in January. | People moved by his plight raised £330,000 for Barnes, who is 4ft 6in and visually impaired, within days of the attack in January. |
| Related: Mugged pensioner tells of amazement at well-wishers’ £220,000 donations | Related: Mugged pensioner tells of amazement at well-wishers’ £220,000 donations |
| Gatiss was sentenced at Newcastle crown court after previously admitting assault with intent to rob. The judge Paul Sloan QC said: “I have no doubt he was picked on by you because of his vulnerability. | Gatiss was sentenced at Newcastle crown court after previously admitting assault with intent to rob. The 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.” | “It was on any view a despicable offence.” |
| Gatiss, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, was caught after police retrieved DNA evidence from Barnes’s jacket pocket. | Gatiss, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, was caught after police retrieved DNA evidence from Barnes’s jacket pocket. |
| He ran off empty-handed from the mugging when Barnes shouted for help. | He ran off empty-handed from the mugging when Barnes shouted for help. |
| While on remand, Gatiss was kept in segregation for his own safety due to the strong feelings his attack caused even among convicted criminals. | While on remand, Gatiss was kept in segregation for his own safety due to the strong feelings his attack caused even among convicted criminals. |
| Reports of the assault led Katie Cutler, 21, a beautician, to set up a fund for Alan after he said he was too scared to return to his home in Gateshead, which initially aimed to raise £500. | Reports of the assault led Katie Cutler, 21, a beautician, to set up a fund for Alan after he said he was too scared to return to his home in Gateshead, which initially aimed to raise £500. |
| The appeal went viral, however, with many members of the public expressing their disgust at the attack on a vulnerable man. | The appeal went viral, however, with many members of the public expressing their disgust at the attack on a vulnerable man. |
| Barnes has lived with disabilities all his life after his mother contracted rubella when she was pregnant. | |
| He has said he will buy a new house with the money and plans to set up a foundation with Cutler with the aim of raising £1m for good causes. | He has said he will buy a new house with the money and plans to set up a foundation with Cutler with the aim of raising £1m for good causes. |