‘Homeless hero’ denies he stole from the victims of Manchester suicide attack
A HOMELESS man who was hailed a hero after helping victims of the Manchester Arena bombing has denied stealing a purse and mobile phone from people caught in the attack.
Chris Parker (33) allegedly swiped the purse of Pauline Healey as her granddaughter, Sorrell Leczkowski (14), lay dying.
He also allegedly took a mobile phone belonging to a teenage girl who cannot be named because of her age.
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi (22) detonated his device in thefoyerofthearenaonMay22, killing 22 people.
Rough sleeper Parker received global acclaim after he described witnessing the effects of the blast and tending to the injured.
Yesterday he appeared at Manchester Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing.
Parker, now living in Halifax, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of theft and two counts of attempted theft.
It is alleged he took Mrs Healey’s purse, containing bank cards, from a handbag as she lay stricken on the ground and also stole the other victim’s phone.
Mrs Healey attended the Ariana Grande concert with Sorrell and Sorrell’s mother, Samantha.
She later underwent 15 hours of surgery to remove shrapnel from her body and also suffered multiple compound fractures to her arms and legs.
The teenager’s mother was also seriously injured.
Sorrell, who was a pupil at Allerton High School in Leeds, was hoping to be an architect and wanted to study at Columbia University in New York.
It is also alleged Parker tried to steal a bag and a coat belonging to persons unknown.
Judge Hilary Manley bailed the defendant until October 16.