A DISABLED pensioner who inspired global sympathy after he was mugged is selling his house that was funded by well-wishers and will move to the Shetland Islands after getting a “calling from God”.

Committed Christian Alan Barnes has only lived in his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, since April, after an online fund set up for him reached £330,000 within days of him being attacked.

The six-stone 67-year-old was knocked to the floor outside his old home by a mugger, breaking his collar bone in January.

He felt too insecure to move back to his old property and a new home was bought.
Now he wants to work for the Church and plans to move to Shetland, despite never having been there before.

He said: “I am a Christian and I am open to the Holy Spirit. I have had a calling from God to move to the Shetlands. Within a Methodist Church the ministers move around. If I go to the Shetland Islands I won’t be asking for any money.”

If he had not been partially sighted, he would have liked to have been a church minister, he said.

His role will not be to try to make people go to church, but to talk to them about his faith, he said.

His two-bedroom terraced house is for sale at £155,000. Once it is sold, he plans to rent a home in the Shetlands.

Beautician Katie Cutler, who started the fund for Mr Barnes, has been honoured with the British Empire Medal and has set up a foundation to support other good causes.

The mugger, Richard Gatiss, was jailed for four years. Newcastle Crown Court heard that Gatiss was addicted to legal highs and the attack was motivated by a need for money for drugs.