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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Manchester Arena attack 'hero' jailed for theft | Manchester Arena attack 'hero' jailed for theft |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A homeless man who stole from victims of the Manchester Arena bomb attack has been jailed. | |
| Chris Parker, 33, was initially hailed as a hero after claiming he helped the injured, but CCTV showed him in the arena foyer, stealing from victims. | Chris Parker, 33, was initially hailed as a hero after claiming he helped the injured, but CCTV showed him in the arena foyer, stealing from victims. |
| He had previously admitted stealing a purse and a mobile phone from two victims at Manchester Crown Court. | He had previously admitted stealing a purse and a mobile phone from two victims at Manchester Crown Court. |
| Jailing him for four years and three months, a judge told Parker: "You were not the hero you pretended to be." | |
| Judge David Hernandez added: "You were just a common thief." | |
| Parker pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one of fraud after admitting using a debit card from the stolen purse. | |
| The judge said: "You stole from people who were seriously injured at a time when others were either dead or dying. | |
| "It is hard to contemplate a more reprehensible set of circumstances." | "It is hard to contemplate a more reprehensible set of circumstances." |
| Salman Abedi detonated a homemade bomb at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May, killing 22 people and injuring many more. | Salman Abedi detonated a homemade bomb at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May, killing 22 people and injuring many more. |
| CCTV footage played in court showed Parker leaning over injured survivor Pauline Healey and taking her handbag to steal her purse, as her teenage granddaughter lay dying nearby. | CCTV footage played in court showed Parker leaning over injured survivor Pauline Healey and taking her handbag to steal her purse, as her teenage granddaughter lay dying nearby. |
| He also stole a mobile phone from a 14-year-old girl who was seriously hurt in the blast. | |
| In a victim personal statement, the teenager's mother said the theft was "yet another blow as to how despicable people could be". | |
| Prosecutor Louise Brandon said the girl's phone rang a number of times as people tried to contact her, but Parker terminated one call with an automatic return text message which read: "Sorry I can't talk right now." | |
| The footage showed paramedics and police trying to resuscitate victims nearby as Parker stole the purse and phone. | |
| Hours later, Parker was using Mrs Healey's bank card at a local McDonald's restaurant. | Hours later, Parker was using Mrs Healey's bank card at a local McDonald's restaurant. |
| Supt Chris Hill, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "No matter what personal circumstances you might find yourself in, to steal from injured and terrified innocent people is deplorable. | |
| "Parker exploited these people when they were at their most vulnerable and needed the help of those around them." | |
| The judge told Parker he will serve half his sentence in custody before being released on licence. | |
| He also banned him from Manchester city centre for 10 years. | He also banned him from Manchester city centre for 10 years. |
| When the story of Parker's "heroism" was originally reported, an appeal on the crowdfunding website GoFundMe raised £52,000. | |
| A spokesman for GoFundMe said Parker will not receive the money and it will be returned to the donors. |