A drug addict has been jailed for four years for mugging a "vulnerable" visually-impaired pensioner in an attack which sparked outrage around the world.
Richard Gatiss, 25, pushed 67-year-old Alan Barnes over as he put out the bins as he tried to mug him for money to buy so-called legal highs.
Mr Barnes, who is just 4'6", broke his collar bone in the cowardly assault, which saw his attacker run off empty handed.
Today at Newcastle Crown Court, Gatiss was jailed after previously admitting assault with intent to rob.
Sentencing him to four years in prison, Judge Paul Sloan QC described the mugging as "despicable".
He said: "I have no doubt he was picked on by you because of his vulnerability. It was on any view a despicable offence."
Mr Barnes, who was too scared to move back to his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, after the mugging, became the subject of a viral fundraising campaign.
Local beautician Katie Cutler, 21, helped to raise more than £330,000 for the pensioner through an online fundraising page.
He has said he will now buy a new house with the cash. He and Ms Cutler also now plan to use their new high profile to launch a foundation with the aim of raising £1 million for good causes.
Gatiss, of Split Crow Road, Gateshead, was caught after police retrieved DNA evidence from the pocket on Mr Barnes's jacket.
While on remand, he was kept in segregation for his own safety to prevent attacks from other criminals.
Additional reporting by PA
