A disabled mugging victim who was given £330,000 after he was attacked while taking out his bins is set to lose £60,000 of the total money raised for him in his fifth move since the incident.
Diminutive Alan Barnes, who broke his collar bone when he was pushed over by Richard Gattis in 2015, is looking for a buyer for his new-build property in Low Fell, Gateshead.
The 71-year-old bought the home for £249,950 in October 2017, but had designs on moving just one month into 2018. Now he has put his swanky new property, which overlooks Saltwell Park lake, up for sale for just £230,000.
Disabled mugging victim Alan Barnes, who is set to move house, pictured at his current home in Gateshead
Mr Barnes, 71, broke his collar bone when he was pushed over by Richard Gattis in 2015 (pictured: Mr Barnes in his current kitchen)
The pensioner has been on the move ever since beautician Katie Cutler, 23, was so touched by his plight she set up a GoFundMe page to help him find somewhere else to live. He had been attacked right outside his bungalow while putting out his bins.
But devout Christian Mr Barnes has never been able to settle and has moved house frequently over the years, making a loss with each sale.
Despite previously insisting this house would be his last, Mr Barnes 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.
Devout Christian Mr Barnes has never been able to settle and has moved house frequently over the years, making a loss with each sale (pictured: The original rented property where Alan Barnes lived before he was attacked)
After struggling to settle in his first £150,000 two-bedroom Victorian terrace (pictured in 2015), in his native Low Fell, bought with public donations, Mr Barnes moved one mile down the road
In 2015 Mr Barnes bought the second semi-detached two-bedroom property, which cost £115,000, but put it up for sale just two months later
In 2017, the pensioner decided to start renting to ‘be free of the ties of a house’ (pictured: Mr Barnes outside home four in Gateshead)
Mr Barnes decided to purchase the flash new-build he has now put on the market through Miller homes (pictured)
‘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 struggling to settle in his first £150,000 two-bedroom Victorian terrace, in his native Low Fell, bought with public donations, Mr Barnes moved one mile down the road.
In 2015 Mr Barnes bought the second 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, Mr Barnes accepted an offer of just £78,000 so he could shift again.
Mr Barnes, who has struggled height and growth problems since birth and suffered a fall earlier this year, said: ‘You just have to take what life chucks at you’
In 2017, the pensioner decided to start renting to ‘be free of the ties of a house’ – but then decided to purchase the flash new-build he has now put on the market through Miller homes.
Mr Barnes, who has struggled height and growth problems since birth and suffered a fall earlier this year, added: ‘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.
‘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.’
He added: ‘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.’
Mr Barnes’ attacker, Richard 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.