Manchester Arena attack: Homeless 'hero' Chris Parker who stole from victims is jailed

A homeless man has been jailed for more than four years for stealing from victims of the Manchester Arena attack.

Chris Parker was initially hailed as the hero after claiming he comforted a seriously injured girl.

But CCTV played to Manchester Crown Court showed him wandering between victims, taking personal belongings including a phone and bank card.

The 33-year-old admitted at a hearing at Manchester Crown Court last month to stealing a purse and a mobile phone from two victims.

On Tuesday he was jailed at the same court for four years and three months for two counts of theft and one count of fraud.

Judge David Hernandez told Parker:

Salman Abedi's suicide bombing killed 22 people and left scores injured on May 22 last year.

Parker was caught on camera leaning over the body of injured survivor Pauline Healey to steal her purse as her 14-year-old granddaughter Sorrell Leczkowski lay dying nearby.

He also snatched the mobile phone of a teenager and within hours was using Mrs Healey's bank cards at a local McDonald's.

Prosecutors said the defendant provided "some limited assistance" but that he also took the opportunity to commit the thefts immediately after the atrocity.

He will not receive the money raised for him through the public appeal on GoFundMe. It will instead go back to the donors.

Following sentencing, Supt Chris Hill from Greater Manchester Police, said: