The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bombing ‘hero’ admits stealing from victims
MANCHESTER: Homeless man stole a purse and mobile phone after tragedy
A homeless man who was hailed a hero in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing yesterday admitted stealing a purse and mobile phone from stricken victims of the attack.
Horrific CCTV footage played in court showed Chris Parker wandering between stricken and dying victims left bleeding on the floor.
He repeatedly returned to Pauline Healey, whose granddaughter lay dying nearby, before leaning over her body and taking her handbag to steal her purse.
Parker, 33, pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to two counts of theft and one of fraud.
Within hours of taking the purse of Mrs Healey, who was injured in the blast, he was using her bank card at a local McDonald’s.
He failed to turn up in court on Tuesday and was found hiding in the loft of a house in Halifax, West Yorkshire, where he was arrested.
Parker pleaded not guilty to five counts relating to attempted theft of a coat and bag discarded in the chaos and the use of Mrs Healey’s bank cards in the days after the attack.
Prosecutors have not pursued these charges after his guilty pleas.
Judge David Hernandez remanded Parker in custody for sentence on January 30, adding a custodial sentence is “most likely”.
After his arrest Parker had been remanded in custody at HMP Manchester but was unable to leave his cell because of death threats from fellow inmates.
The rough sleeper had received global acclaim and was hailed a hero after claiming to have helped comfort injured and dying victims moments after suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated his home-made device.
But CCTV footage told a different story.
The grim footage showed how he preyed on Mrs Healey, as her granddaughter Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, lay dying nearby, and stole the phone of another victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
In the days after the attack a member of the public, Michael Johns, was so moved by Parker detailing his “heroic” actions he set up the appeal on GoFundMe to help the rough sleeper.
The fund, now standing at £52,539, will not now be donated to the defendant.
A spokesman said: “GoFundMe is in full control of the funds donated. All donors are protected by the GoFundMe Guarantee which means that donations go to the right place or will be refunded. Concerned donors can contact us.”