Mugging victim ‘overwhelmed’ by £250k donations

A vulnerable pensioner who has received more than £250,000 in donations after he was mugged outside his home has been “overwhelmed” by the support, his sister said.

Almost 16,000 well-wishers have raised more than £250,000 in just over three days after hearing about the cowardly attack on Alan Barnes, 67.

Mr Barnes, who is 4ft 6in, frail and visually impaired, suffered a broken collarbone when he was shoved over outside his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, last Sunday.

The attacker demanded money and checked through his victim’s pockets but ran off when Mr Barnes called for help.

Mr Barnes’ sister Carol Hill, 55, said her brother had been taken aback by all the attention his story had attracted.

She said: “He’s done a lot of interviews and he’s done TV, it’s all getting a bit much I think. But it’s been lovely, there are so many kind people out there giving very generously. He is overwhelmed by it all.”

Mr Barnes said he will not return to the home, where he was living independently, as he is too scared. He has said he will use the money raised to buy a new home and move somewhere different.

Beautician Katie Cutler set up the Help Alan Barnes online donation page on the Go Fund Me site after seeing reports of the attack which police described as “disgraceful”.

Ms Cutler, who met Mr Barnes yesterday, said she had been “lost for words” after the campaign made headlines and the two shared “an absolutely magic” hug.