Yahoo News Decorator charged with assaulting homeless man who died after being sprayed with red paint
A painter and decorator has been charged with assaulting a homeless man who died four days after being sprayed with red paint in a humiliating attack.
Images of Michael Cash sitting on the ground covered in paint caused outrage when they went viral earlier this month.
The 32-year-old, who was a rough sleeper in his hometown of Middlesbrough, died just days after the incident.
Cleveland Police said they had now charged 33-year-old local man, Aaron Jones, with assault and criminal damage in connection with the paint attack.
He will appear before Teesside magistrates on October 10th.
A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "Police have charged a 33-year-old man in connection with an alleged assault which occurred near to Tesco Express on Normanby High Street.
"The incident was reported to police on Sunday 9th September.
"Michael Cash, 32, was the victim of the alleged incident and he later sadly died on Wednesday 12th September. His death was not treated as suspicious and is not connected with the alleged incident near to Tesco.
"The man has been charged with assault and criminal damage and will appear at Teesside Magistrates Court on Wednesday 10th October."
Following Mr Cash's death a crowdfunding page was set up to pay for his funeral costs and has achieved its £1,000 target.
His family have revealed that he became "lost" after the death of his mother, describing him as a compassionate schoolboy with liked football and Formula One and who used to love to sing for his grandmother.
His mother, Elaine, developed lung cancer when he was still in his teens and his nursed her, along with his three siblings until her death 12-years ago, aged 51.
He later battled with heroin addiction and ended up living on the streets.
His aunt, Lorraine Darling, 63, said: "He never got over the death of his mother, he was lost without her."
