Manchester bomb attack `hero` denies bank card and mobile phone theft

A homeless man has denied stealing from two injured victims moments after the Manchester Arena terror bomb attack. Chris Parker – hailed a hero for helping people hurt in the atrocity – appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (August 16). The 33-year-old was charged with two counts of theft of a bank card from injured woman Pauline Healey at the Arena on May 22. Mrs Healey, whose 14-year-old granddaughter Sorrell Leczkowski was killed in the attack, was in a coma for several days but survived. Her daughter, Samantha, was also injured. He is also charged with theft of a mobile phone from a young girl who was also seriously injured in the bomb attack that killed 22 adults and children at the end of an Ariana Grande concert. Reporting restrictions were put in place during the brief hearing to prohibit identifying the girl. Mr Parker. who gave an address in case bail was granted as Woodlands Road, Crumpsall, was remanded in custody. District Judge John Timperley said that powers of the magistrates’ court were “wholly insufficient” to deal with the matter and the case will be heard at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday, September 13. More than £50,000 was raised to help Mr Parker after he said he rushed to help the injured and dying.