Mum who raised £330k for disabled mugging victim Alan Barnes admits she sometimes wishes she hadn’t bothered as she faces huge PR bill

A YOUNG mum who raised £330,000 for a mugging victim has admitted there are times when she wishes she never did.

Katie Cutler, 23, became a national sweetheart after raising the huge sum for 4ft 6in pensioner Alan Barnes after he was attacked by a drug addict outside his home.

But now she is involved in a bitter legal row over unpaid fees to a publicity agent who helped raise her profile during the campaign.

The mum-of-one is now facing court action and a possible visit from the bailiffs over the £6,687 she owes Claire Barber.

Speaking to the , Katie said: “There are dark days when I wish I never got involved … But then I think of the people I helped and I cannot regret it for long.”

Katie has until Tuesday to pay up or face having some of her things seized and sold to cover her debt.

She says that the stress has left her struggling to sleep and less able devote time to her four-year-old daughter Gracie.

She continued: “The court wrangle has been such an ordeal as I have had to think about what the bailiffs could take away.

“And the worst part is that my little girl has just started school and I don’t feel like I have been there for her.”

Katie, from Greenside in Tyne & Wear, has now given up on plans to set up a charitable foundation to help raise money for other people.

She said: “All I ever wanted to do was to help others. I have been approached by so many people for help but have had to say no because of this legal action against me. It is a terrible ordeal.”

Katie has also been upset at the online comments Alan, who is registered as blind, has received after he offered only £10 of help as he didn’t want to “show off”.

Ms Barber, who runs her own PR firm, joined Katie’s fund raising effort and completed 14.5 days’ work over four months while charging £550 a day.