NORTH-EAST councils are examining new powers to ban the consumption of so-called legal highs after it emerged that the attacker who mugged disabled pensioner Alan Barnes was after cash to feed his habit.

Twenty-five year old Richard Gatiss attacked frail Mr Barnes as he put out his wheelie bin in Low Fell, Gateshead, on January 25, breaking his victim’s collarbone.

The attack prompted a worldwide outpouring of sympathy which raised £330,000 to help Mr Barnes move home and start again.

Gatiss appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday via a video-link from Durham Prison and admitted assault with intent to rob.

And it can be reported that a previous hearing was told that the mugging was motivated by drugs.

Prosecutor Keith Laidlaw told an earlier hearing at Gateshead Magistrates Court: “Legal highs played their part in this.”

Gatiss forced Mr Barnes to the pavement outside his home, in Hillside Place, Gateshead, and told him "hand over your money". He ran off when his victim shouted for help.

Northumbria Police detectives traced Gatiss after recovering forensic evidence the mugger left on Mr Barnes's jacket pocket.

Mr Laidlaw said Gatiss, who now fears for his own safety, had a “drugs background” and a record for possession of cannabis. At the time of the assault he was a user of so-called legal highs – legally available substances which have similar effects to illegal drugs.

Last night Lincoln became the first place in the country to ban the consumption of legal highs in public places.

The City of Lincoln Council is set to use a new public space protection order (PSPO), introduced by the Government to help local authorities tackle anti-social behaviour, to make it illegal for anyone to consume an intoxicant in the city centre.

North-East council leaders are looking at the new powers with a view to introducing similar bans across the region.

Martin Gannon, deputy leader of Gateshead Council, said: “We will do whatever is necessary to protect the citizens of Gateshead.

“We will look at what Lincoln has done and discuss it with the police and our Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird. I will be making inquiries [about the Lincoln pilot project] to see what we can do.”

Councillor Gannon was supported by Gateshead MP Ian Mearns who said: “I think a public ban is a positive way to attack the problem of legal highs. The Government has tried regulation but it the dealers just change the chemical composition a bit and sell it with another name.

“If you could get a banning order that prevented the consumption of any [psychoactive substance] then I think it is fine. The problem will be how to police it effectively.”

Other authorities are also watching the Lincoln ban closely. Bill Dixon, the leader of Darlington Borough Council and chairman of the Darlington Drug Action Team, said: “I will be talking to Lincoln Council with a view to finding out how they have done this. It is something we would like to look at very seriously.

“ We are aware of assaults, including rape, which have involved people who have taken legal highs, including alcohol.”

Although the Government has attempted to ban legal highs its efforts have met with limited success because it is possible to change the chemical recipe of a proscribed substance and render it legal again.

Under the Lincoln plan anyone found breaking the rules would be committing a criminal office and could be handed a fixed penalty notice or a court-imposed fine. The scheme has the full support of local police who would enforce the new order.

Richard Gatiss, meanwhile, is now living in fear. His barrister Jamie Adams said his client was segregated in prison because of the strong feelings his crime aroused.

"He has not stopped thinking about Mr Barnes since this awful deed,” said Mr Adams. "He is very conscious of being in the public eye and everyone not just gazing at him but glaring at him.

"Necessarily, he is segregated in prison because of the way people feel about him."

Judge Paul Sloan QC, the Recorder of Newcastle, adjourned the case to allow reports to be prepared, but he warned Gatiss that jail was likely.