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| Homeless 'hero' in court over Manchester bomb victim thefts | Homeless 'hero' in court over Manchester bomb victim thefts |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A homeless man hailed as a “hero” for helping victims of the Manchester Arena attack has appeared in court charged with stealing from two of those seriously injured. | A homeless man hailed as a “hero” for helping victims of the Manchester Arena attack has appeared in court charged with stealing from two of those seriously injured. |
| Chris Parker, 33, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two counts of theft on the night of the bomb. | Chris Parker, 33, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two counts of theft on the night of the bomb. |
| Manchester magistrates court heard that Parker is accused of stealing a purse and contents belonging to Pauline Healey, and a mobile phone from teenager who cannot be named. | Manchester magistrates court heard that Parker is accused of stealing a purse and contents belonging to Pauline Healey, and a mobile phone from teenager who cannot be named. |
| Healey’s 14-year-old granddaughter, Sorrell Leczkowski, was killed in the attack on 22 May. Her daughter, Samantha, Sorrell’s mother, was also seriously injured. | |
| The case was transferred to the crown court. | The case was transferred to the crown court. |
| Parker was denied bail and remanded in custody. | |
| He protested his innocence as he was led from the dock. “I’ve done nothing. I’ve done absolutely nothing. All I was doing was helping people,” he said. | He protested his innocence as he was led from the dock. “I’ve done nothing. I’ve done absolutely nothing. All I was doing was helping people,” he said. |
| More than £50,000 was raised for Parker in the days after the attack via a crowdfunding campaign. | More than £50,000 was raised for Parker in the days after the attack via a crowdfunding campaign. |
| A spokesman for GoFundMe, which hosted the crowdfunder, said on Tuesday night: “We’re monitoring the situation closely. We are in full control of the funds and all donors are completely protected by the GoFundMe Guarantee. Anyone concerned about their donation should contact us at gofundme.com/guarantee.” | A spokesman for GoFundMe, which hosted the crowdfunder, said on Tuesday night: “We’re monitoring the situation closely. We are in full control of the funds and all donors are completely protected by the GoFundMe Guarantee. Anyone concerned about their donation should contact us at gofundme.com/guarantee.” |