Manchester bombing 'homeless hero' Chris Parker charged with stealing bank card on night of attack

A man hailed as a homeless hero following the Manchester bombing has denied stealing a bank card from the arena on the night of the terror attack.

Greater Manchester Police said Chris Parker, 33, has been charged with stealing a purse from Pauline Healey and a mobile phone from a 14-year-old girl on May 22.

Mr Parker denies the charges.

Following the attack, rough sleeper Parker had described witnessing the blast and tending to the injured.

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Speaking at the time, he said: “It knocked me to the floor and then I got up and instead of running away, my gut instinct was to run back and try and help.

“There was people lying on the floor everywhere.”

He told how he had wrapped an injured girl in a T-shirt and tending to a woman who passed away in his arms.

More than £50,000 was raised for him on the GoFundMe website following reports of the help he had given.

A spokesman for the crowdfunding site said: “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.”

He will appear at Manchester Crown Court on 13 September.

Twenty-two people died when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a device as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert at the arena.