Mugging victim Alan Barnes offers to pay PR bill despite previously only offering a tenner
The offer comes after strangers donated the £6k needed for Katie Cutler to pay the PR bill
MUGGING victim Alan Barnes has offered to pay his fundraiser's PR bill after a storm of controversy around the case.
Katie Cutler helped to raise £330,000 for the 4ft 6inch mugging victim, with the money raised to go towards buying the man a new home.
But the case was thrown into the spotlight when the young woman was accused of not paying the £6,687 bill she owed Claire Barber PR.
Alan, of Gateshead, recently said that he would put in £10 to help pay the bill but has now said he would pitch in.
The 68-year-old said: "I didn’t pay for convalescence when I was injured as I stayed with my sister Carol for 12 weeks."
He said: "Because I didn’t have to pay for that I am donating that money I didn’t spend back then, to clear up the bill for Katie."
He told the : "I first said I would pay £10 because other people were paying between 50p to £10.
"So I said I would pay a small amount such as £10 as if I gave a large amount I felt I would make those people, who had given, feel uncomfortable."
He said he wanted to meet with the PR agency face to face to give her a cheque as he was scared Katie would reject the £6687.
Strangers have also donated money to the mother after the controversy surfaced.
Earlier this month, Alan said that the money had been raised to help him after he was attacked while taking the bins out in January last year.
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While criticised online for his comments, Katie came to his defence, saying: "I do not think Alan should have to pay anything.
"Like me, he did not sign anything.
"A lot of people think he should have paid that bill because things in that relate to him.
";If you go out for a meal, the richest person does not have to foot the bill. I feel strongly about this.
"The money raised was Alan’s and that money was for him - it should stay with him. He can do what he wants with it."
The 23-year-old also confessed she sometimes wished she had never become involved in the case after becoming embroiled in the bitter legal row over unpaid fees.
She was criticised by PR agent Claire Barber, CEO of Claire Barber PR, who said the mum of one had actually wanted to use the agency to become famous herself.
Katie strongly denied the accusations.
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