Manchester’s ‘homeless hero’ stole at bomb scene, court told
A MAN hailed the “homeless hero” after the Manchester Arena bombing stole the purse of a teenage victim’s grandmother while she lay injured, a court has heard.
Chris Parker, 33, allegedly took Pauline Healey’s purse and its contents from her handbag while she was on the ground of the foyer. Mrs Healey’s granddaughter, 14-year-old Sorrell Leczkowski, was among the 22 killed by Salman Abedi after a concert in May.
Mr Parker is also accused of taking the phone of a teenage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons. He entered not guilty pleas to the two charges when he appeared at Manchester and Salford magistrates’ court yesterday.
Prosecutors allege that Mr Parker took a purse, containing bank cards, from Mrs Healey’s bag as she lay on the ground. Ben Southam, prosecuting, said it was clear the defendant provided “some limited assistance” to people injured, but it was the Crown’s case that he “equally” took the opportunity to commit thefts. Mr Parker, who gave his address as Crumpsall, Manchester, was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Manchester Crown Court on Sept 13.