A homeless man who stole from victims of the Manchester Arena bombing has been jailed for four years and three months.  Chris Parker, 33, was initially hailed a hero for allegedly helping some of those injured in the May 22 attack last year, with more than £50,000 being raised by the public to help the rough sleeper, writes metro.co.uk.

But CCTV recovered by police showed him wandering the foyer of the arena amid the dying and injured, stealing from victims. 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. Parker, sporting a black goatee beard, wore a grey jumper in the dock as he appeared before Judge David Hernandez at Manchester Crown Court this morning.

Prosecutor Louise Brandon said a warrant was issued for his arrest after Parker did not turn up for the first day of his trial. West Yorkshire Police found him hiding in a loft in Halifax on the early hours of January 3 and brought to court that morning. Recounting the events of May 22, she told the court Parker was homeless at the time and living on the streets regularly. He was at the Arena that night and was initially offering some assistance but then committed the crimes he pleaded guilty to. Ms Brandon said that contrary to the impression he subsequently gave to the media, ‘he [Parker] was no hero’.

Ms Brandon said that although it was clear Parker offered some assistance, helping members of the public who were with someone using a wheelchair, but that this was ‘short lived’. The court was shown CCTV footage showing the immediate aftermath of the bomb, in which Parker can be seen looking through bags and taking items from them.

Parker, who initially claimed to have rushed into the venue to help in the aftermath of the blast, also took photos of the wounded as he committed his crimes. Ms Brandon said it appeared that Parker took two photographs in the Arena as those injured receive medical treatment close by. 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. Prosecutors said Parker spent about 45 minutes in the Arena. The court was also shown the photographs taken by Parker.

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. Prosecutors said Parker spent about 45 minutes in the Arena. The court was also shown the photographs taken by Parker. Ms Brandon said Parker also stole an iPhone from a victim who cannot be named for legal reasons and deliberately sought to obstruct any attempts to locate that phone.

As well as admitting two counts of theft, Parker admitted one count of fraud after using Mrs Healey’s bank card at a McDonald’s in Manchester three times between May 23 and May 26. When Parker was interviewed by police, he told officers that he sold photographs on his phone to a journalist for £100. The court was told that Parker has 10 previous convictions, including the theft of a mobile phone from his mother, and the theft of a computer games console belonging to the children of his former partner. In a victim impact statement, Mrs Healey said: ‘Chris Parker has added further difficulty and upset for us to cope with things we didn’t really need to be dealing with at this time. ‘The actions of this man are truly deplorable and despicable and have taken my focus away from my health and supporting my family.

‘I cannot understand how anyone could exploit an attack of this kind for their own gain during a scene of this destruction and tragedy.’ Defending, John Broadley said Parker had five previous convictions for dishonesty. Mr Broadley said: ‘Nothing that I will say in mitigation can possibly excuse Mr Parker’s behaviour that night.’ He added that Parker has never received a custodial sentence before and would be on the vulnerable persons wing at prison. Parker – who is currently in ‘isolation’ at prison – has received threats, the court heard.

Mr Broadley said: ‘Mr Parker does wish me to express his deep sorrow and shame for his behaviour that night. ‘He may be given Mr Parker’s background and upbringing hopefully that realisation will increase with the passage of time. ‘But it’s something which he wishes me, unprovoked, to express to the court and the public. ‘It will probably carry very little weight but it’s something he has asked me to say on his behalf.’ After he was arrested, Parker told officers that he was ‘traumatised’ by the events of May 22. Judge Hernandez said: ‘I accept that you helped some people however there is force in the submission of the prosecution that these moments of compassion were brief. ‘Your behaviour has been viewed with repugnance by the community as a whole.’ A criminal behaviour order was also imposed for 10 years which bans Parker from entering Manchester city centre.