‘Arena hero’ denies theft of purse and mobile in aftermath of bombing
A ‘HOMELESS hero’ praised for helping people injured in the Manchester Arena bombing has denied stealing a purse from a grandmother and mobile phone from a teenager caught up in the atrocity.
Chris Parker, 33, allegedly snatched the purse of Pauline Healey, the grandmother of Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, who died in the blast.
It is also alleged he took a mobile phone belonging to a teenage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Mr Parker, who used to sleep rough, received global acclaim following the attack on May 22 after telling how he tended to the injured.
He appeared at Manchester Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing yesterday.
Mr Parker, now living in Halifax, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of theft and two counts of attempted theft.
It is alleged Mr Parker took Mrs Healey’s purse, containing bank cards, from a handbag as she lay stricken on the ground – and that he stole the teenager’s phone.
It is also alleged he tried to steal a bag and a coat belonging to unknown people. Mrs Healey attended the Ariana Grande concert with Sorrell and Sorrell’s mother, Samantha.
The women were both left seriously injured. Sorrell tragically died.
Judge Hilary Manley bailed Mr Parker until October 16 for a pre-trial hearing ahead of a three-day trial scheduled to begin on January 2.