A 25-YEAR-OLD man was charged yesterday with assaulting disabled pensioner Alan Barnes in England, for whom £300,000 was subsequently raised in donations Mr Barnes (67), suffered a broken collarbone when he was knocked to the ground outside his home in Gateshead, on January 25.
An online fundraising campaign set up on his behalf raised £330,135. Richard Gatiss, of Gateshead, was charged with assault with intent to rob and will appear before magistrates in the town today.
Mr Barnes has lived with disabilities from birth, after his mother contracted German measles when she was pregnant.