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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Manchester Arena attack: 'Hero' admits theft from victims | Manchester Arena attack: 'Hero' admits theft from victims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A homeless man who stole a purse and a phone from victims of the Manchester Arena attack has admitted theft. | A homeless man who stole a purse and a phone from victims of the Manchester Arena attack has admitted theft. |
| Chris Parker, 33, was initially dubbed a hero after claiming he comforted a seriously injured girl. | Chris Parker, 33, was initially dubbed a hero after claiming he comforted a seriously injured girl. |
| CCTV footage played to Manchester Crown Court showed him wandering between stricken victims. | CCTV footage played to Manchester Crown Court showed him wandering between stricken victims. |
| He kept returning to injured Pauline Healey, whose granddaughter lay dying nearby, before leaning over her and taking her handbag to steal her purse. | He kept returning to injured Pauline Healey, whose granddaughter lay dying nearby, before leaning over her and taking her handbag to steal her purse. |
| Paramedics and police were also captured trying to resuscitate victims close by as he did so. | Paramedics and police were also captured trying to resuscitate victims close by as he did so. |
| Within hours of taking the purse, he was using Mrs Healey's bank card at a local fast food restaurant. | Within hours of taking the purse, he was using Mrs Healey's bank card at a local fast food restaurant. |
| Hiding in loft | Hiding in loft |
| Salman Abedi detonated a home-made bomb at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May, killing 22 people and injuring many more. | Salman Abedi detonated a home-made bomb at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May, killing 22 people and injuring many more. |
| Parker's trial was due to start on Tuesday but was delayed after he failed to appear. | Parker's trial was due to start on Tuesday but was delayed after he failed to appear. |
| He was found hiding in a loft of a house in Halifax, West Yorkshire, where he was arrested. | He was found hiding in a loft of a house in Halifax, West Yorkshire, where he was arrested. |
| He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one of fraud after admitting using a debit card from the stolen purse. | He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one of fraud after admitting using a debit card from the stolen purse. |
| Parker pleaded not guilty to five counts relating to the attempted theft of a coat and bag discarded in the chaos following the attack, and the use of Mrs Healey's bank cards in the days after. | Parker pleaded not guilty to five counts relating to the attempted theft of a coat and bag discarded in the chaos following the attack, and the use of Mrs Healey's bank cards in the days after. |
| 'Limited assistance' | 'Limited assistance' |
| Louise Brandon, prosecuting, said: "By his pleas he's admitted stealing items belonging to victims of the attack on the arena and using a bank card thereafter. I do not seek a trial on the remaining counts." | |
| Prosecutors said it was clear the defendant provided "some limited assistance" to people injured at the entrance to the venue's foyer. | Prosecutors said it was clear the defendant provided "some limited assistance" to people injured at the entrance to the venue's foyer. |
| However, it was the Crown's case that he "equally" took the opportunity to commit the thefts in the immediate aftermath of the attack. | However, it was the Crown's case that he "equally" took the opportunity to commit the thefts in the immediate aftermath of the attack. |
| John Broadley, defending, asked for pre-sentence reports on Parker, who has previous theft and shoplifting convictions dating from 2000 to February of last year. | |
| Judge David Hernandez said a custodial sentence was "most likely". | Judge David Hernandez said a custodial sentence was "most likely". |
| Parker, now of Halifax, will remain in custody until he is sentenced on 30 January. | Parker, now of Halifax, will remain in custody until he is sentenced on 30 January. |