Disabled pensioner who received £330k in donations after mugging is selling the second house he bought with the proceeds because he would rather rent
Alan Barnes was shockingly attacked as he put out his bins last year and the nation was inspired to help
AFTER less than two months in a property funded by donations from the nation, the disabled pensioner who was brutally attacked last year has decided to move again.
Alan Barnes, who has suffered from height and growth problems since birth, broke his collar bone when he was pushed over in a despicable mugging in January last year.
The 68-year-old moved into a house bought with donations from well-wishers inspired to help, after beautician Katie Cutler set up an online fund to help him move away from the area he was attacked in in Gateshead.
However he failed to settle in and moved into a new house with a garden just before Christmas.
Alan has now put that house on the market as he wants to rent instead, as he realised being a home owner is not for him.
He said: "I thought about doing this house up but it is not me. I want to live on the money not tie it up.
"I saw the Christmas over and I knew.
"I thought I'm just going to rent, if the central heating goes off all I need to do is ring the estate agent."
After devout Christian Alan was attacked by Richard Gatiss, 26, last January, while putting his bins out, well-wishers raised an amazing £330,000 on a GoFundMe account.
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He considered moving to the Shetlands Islands after selling his first home, but had a change of heart and bought the second property he now wants to leave.
He said: "People encouraged me to buy it, they wanted me to spend the money on a house.
"I am just living on the money and I will keep it that way.
"I want to be in full control of the money, I don't want it tied up in property.
"I didn't settle in the last house, and I haven't settled in this one either.
"I considered spending some money on making changes, but I was worried I would still not be happy here and it would be a waste.
"If I rent I will be able to move around as much as I want.
"It's just something different, it's just me and I always do things different."
Alan hopes to live in a property linked to the church, an opportunity he would seize.
Of Katie, the 23-year-old who started the fund, he said: "Her path is very different, she does things a lot of young people do.
"She loves all the glamour and I don't like anything like that.
"Katie is just young, she has a lot of contacts."
Gattis, from Gateshead, was jailed for four years after admitting assault with intent to rob.
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