A pensioner mugged in the street who had £330,000 raised for him so he could move has switched homes for sixth time since the attack.
It is estimated Alan Barnes, 73, has spent more than £90,000 of the money raised for him by the public on the expense of being constantly on the move.
The diminutive pensioner captured the world's hearts after a fundraising campaign by a local beautician when was shoved to the ground by a drug addict in 2015.
Mr Barnes, who has suffered from height and growth problems since birth, lived in a tiny council house in Low Fell, Gateshead, when he was targeted by the thug while he put out the bins.
But money raised by young mum Katie Cutler - who Alan says he no longer speaks to - enabled him to buy a smart two-bed terrace for £150,000, making him a home owner for the first time in his life.
However, Alan was unable to settle into his new house, and has been on the move ever since, most recently leaving behind a plush newbuild overlooking the beautiful Saltwell Park which he bought for £250,000 in 2017.
The mugging victim sold that house for £205,000 last July, making a loss of £45,000, and is now living in a smaller home close by, having never left the Low Fell area.
Alan Barnes, 73, is seen today at his latest home in Gateshead, which he moved into last year
Alan pictured today with Katie Cutler, the beautician who spearheaded the campaign to raise money for him
Alan said: 'I had been trying to sell my last house for two years. I had a lot of problems there. There were lots of people riding bikes and dogs. I was struggling to sell it, it was difficult.
'Nobody came to see it because of the pandemic, it was nothing but a nuisance.
'I had to move out of it quickly as there was only one person interested and they were in danger of losing their mortgage. I rented for a few months before moving here.'I lost 45 grand in the sale. If I had stayed there longer it would've dug further into the money I had left. I also had to pay £6,000 in fees.'I like this house. I was always interested in architecture and it is an older property.'
Alan says he won't buy another house, but would consider paying someone to build him a bespoke detached bungalow in the future.
The devout Christian has never been able to settle and has moved house frequently over the years, making a loss with each
