A DISABLED pensioner who was given £330,000 by well wishers for a new house after he was mugged is on the move for the fourth time since the attack.

Alan Barnes, who broke his collar bone when he was pushed over by Richard Gattis in 2015, is planning to buy the plush new-build property overlooking Saltwell Park in Low Fell, Gateshead.

The frail 69-year-old will move into the modern £244,950 three-bedroom detached house once it is completed towards the end of this year.

The devout Christian, who has been unable to settle in any of his last houses since the attack, claims that the new property will be his last.

Mr Barnes, who is currently living in a small rented ground floor flat in Low Fell said: “This is what I have wanted for a while.

“It’s just right and I can do what I want with it, and it is easy for people to find.

“It is perfect for me, it is right next to the park and I can still walk to church every day.

“Moving is just part of who I am – this will be the 16th house I will have lived in over my life. But this will be my last move.

“I can’t wait to be in the house, just in time for my 70th birthday.”

Diminutive Mr Barnes was given £330,000 of donations to remove him from the house where the sickening attack happened – after single mother Katie Cutler set up an online fund.

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 he 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.

Earlier this year, the pensioner decided to start renting to “be free of the ties of a house”.

But he has since changed his mind and reserved the plot with Miller Homes – which he plans to move into later this year.

All of the properties Alan has lived in have been within the same small one mile area of Gateshead.

Alan has decided to name his new house after Lydia of Thyatira, who is regarded as the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe.

He added: “I wanted to have something new because I want to give it a name and you can’t give an old house a name.

“I was only renting temporarily, I paid most of the rent up front but obviously the money was just diminishing that way.

“I have wanted this since before Christmas – it will be a really good move for me.

“I am just going to go for it – it is a bit more than I wanted to have paid but I wanted it so I have gone for it.

“I have paid the £500 to reserve the plot with Miller Homes, which means the ball is rolling and all systems are go.

“I don’t find moving stressful, I quite enjoy it actually because I like to keep busy.

“The only bits that are stressful are the gas and electric that I have had to do each time.

“I have always been interested in houses – when I was little I always said I wanted to be a builder through the week and a vicar on a Sunday.”

  • Gattis was jailed for four years after admitting assault with intent to rob.