A homeless man who was hailed as a “hero” for helping victims of the Manchester attack has admitted stealing a purse and mobile phone at the scene of the bombing.

Chris Parker was in the foyer of Manchester Arena when an Isis supporter detonated his homemade bomb, amid crowds pouring out of an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May.

He gave emotional media interviews claiming to have helped the injured, sparking a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than £50,000, but disturbing CCTV footage played in court showed him preying on victims as they bled on the floor.

Parker could be seen repeatedly returning to injured victim Pauline Healey, whose granddaughter was killed in the blast, before leaning over her to reach into her handbag.

He also stole a mobile phone belonging to a teenage girl who cannot be named because of her age.

The 33-year-old, now living in Halifax in West Yorkshire, admitted two counts of theft and one of fraud on the first day of his trial at Manchester Crown Court.

But he denied attempting to steal a person’s coat and three other counts of fraud. Prosecutors said they would not pursue the charges in light of his other guilty pleas.

Louise Brandon, representing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “By his pleas he’s admitted stealing items belonging to victims of the attack on the arena and using a bank card thereafter. I do not seek a trial on the remaining counts.”

Two women receive treatment in the aftermath of the attack (Reuters)

John Broadley, defending, asked for pre-sentence reports on Parker, who has a string of previous convictions dating from 2000 to February of last year, including the theft of a woman’s purse and numerous shoplifting and burglary offences.

“He’s tendered these pleas and all he can do in the circumstances is first of all plead guilty, and apologise for his appalling behaviour that evening,” he added.

Judge David Hernandez remanded Parker in custody for sentence on 30 January, telling him a custodial sentence was “most likely”.

The hearing had been due to take place on Tuesday but Parker violated his bail conditions by failing to attend court, sparking a police operation to track him down.

The court heard that he was found hiding in the loft of a house in Halifax in the early hours of Wednesday morning, arrested and brought to the hearing.

After his initial arrest, Parker had been remanded in custody at HMP Manchester but was unable to leave his cell because of death threats from fellow inmates.

He admitted using one of the grandmother’s debit cards in McDonalds, but denied allegations he also used her bank cards in Tesco and on transport.

Mrs Healey, her granddaughter and her mother Samantha Leczkowski had been in the foyer to meet loved ones who attended the concert.

Mrs Healey underwent 15 hours of surgery to remove shrapnel from her body and also suffered multiple compound fractures to her arms and legs, while Ms Leczkowski was also seriously injured.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd makes statement on Government report on Manchester attack

Her granddaughter Sorrell, a pupil at Allerton High School in Leeds, was hoping to be an architect and wanted to study at Columbia University in New York.

Parker appeared agitated in CCTV footage from the scene, which shows crowds fleeing the blast before some members of the public return to the smoke-filled foyer to help, as well as bodies, human remains and blood filling the area.

Parker, carrying a rucksack and wearing a distinctive woolly hat, could be seen wandering around using his phone before appearing to go to the aid of one woman before the emergency services arrived.

He was also recorded speaking to one young girl, whose mother is believed to have been killed, and comforting her alongside a police officer.

Armed officers then arrived, along with arena staff and paramedics, and Parker briefly left the foyer.

CCTV showed him returning to Mrs Healey, with two bodies on the floor beside her, and reaching over her to take her bag as paramedics and police attempted to resuscitate nearby victims.

Parker was also filmed on a stairwell coming across a coat, picking it up and giving it a shake to check the pockets.

But he later gave a moving account of the aftermath of Salman Abedi’s attack, which killed 22 people, in several media interviews.

“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,” Parker said at the time.

Manchester explosion in pictures Show all 37 1 /37 Manchester explosion in pictures Manchester explosion in pictures People running down stairs as they attempt to exit the Manchester Arena after a blast, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester Twitter/@ZACH_BRUCE/ via REUTERS Manchester explosion in pictures Helpers attend to people inside the Manchester Arena after a suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the end of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people PA wire Manchester explosion in pictures Armed officers guard outside a hotel near the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester, Britain EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Police officers are seen outside the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, northern England Reuters Manchester explosion in pictures MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Police escort members of the public from the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. An explosion occurred at Manchester Arena as concert goers were leaving the venue after Ariana Grande had performed. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed 19 fatalities and at least 50 injured. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Emergency services arrive close to the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images) Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Police escort members of the public from the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. An explosion occurred at Manchester Arena as concert goers were leaving the venue after Ariana Grande had performed. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed 19 fatalities and at least 50 injured. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Medics deploy at the scene of a reported explosion during a concert in Manchester, England on May 23, 2017. British police said early May 23 there were "a number of confirmed fatalities" after reports of at least one explosion during a pop concert by US singer Ariana Grande. Ambulances were seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue and police added in a statement that people should avoid the area / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police and fans close to the Manchester Arena, after reports of an explosion Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of explosion in Manchester, England, at a concert in Manchester Arena AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police stand by a cordoned off street close to the Manchester Arena Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of explosion in Manchester, England AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of a reported explosion during a concert in Manchester, England, on May 23, 2017. British police said early May 23 there were "a number of confirmed fatalities" after reports of at least one explosion during a pop concert by US singer Ariana Grande. Ambulances were seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue and police added in a statement that people should avoid the area AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures An ambulance drives away from the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester Reuters Manchester explosion in pictures Police escort members of the public from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A woman sits in the street in a blanket near the Manchester Arena as police guard the area following reports of an explosion, in Manchester, Britain EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Two women wrapped in thermal blankets stand near the Manchester Arena, where US singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester Reuters Manchester explosion in pictures A Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) bomb disposal robot is unloaded outside the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester. At least 19 people have been confirmed dead and others 50 were injured, authorities said. It is being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise EPA Manchester explosion in pictures A Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) bomb disposal robot is unloaded outside the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Members of the public receive treatment from emergency service staff at Victoria Railway Station close to the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Armed police after a suspected terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by US star Ariana Grande left 19 dead PA wire Manchester explosion in pictures Emergency services arrive close to the Manchester Arena in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures An amoured police vehicle patrols near Manchester Arena in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A man carries a young girl on his shoulders near Victoria station in Manchester AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police officers stand at the Miller Street and Corporation Street Crossroads, in front of the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police block a road near to the Manchester Arena in central Manchester, England AP Manchester explosion in pictures Armed police patrol near Victoria station in Manchester, northwest England. Twenty two people have been killed and dozens injured after a suspected suicide bomber targeted fans leaving a concert of US singer Ariana Grande in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police forensic officers leave the Manchester Arena as they investigate the scene of an explosion in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A forensic officer collects evidence on a walkway between Victoria station and Manchester Arena following a deadly terror attack in Manchester, Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A woman and a young girl wearing a t-shirt of US singer Ariana Grande talks to police near Manchester Arena following a deadly terror attack in Manchester, Getty Manchester explosion in pictures epaselect epa05982725 Susan Walton and daughter Katie, 10 (pictured), who attended the concert of Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena, are seen in Manchester, Britain, 23 May 2017. According to a statement released by the Greater Manchester Police on 23 May 2017, police responded to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017 evening. At least 19 people have been confirmed dead and around 50 others were injured, authorities said. The happening is currently treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise. According to reports quoting witnesses, a mass evacuation was prompted after explosions were heard at the end of US singer Ariana Grande's concert in the arena. EPA/NIGEL RODDIS EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese speak to the media outside Manchester Town Hall after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children, as an explosion tore through fans leaving a pop concert in Manchester Dave Higgens/PA Wire Manchester explosion in pictures The media gather behind a police cordon in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Flowers left close to the Manchester Arena, the morning after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children, as an explosion tore through fans leaving a pop concert in Manchester Danny Lawson/PA Wire Manchester explosion in pictures Ariana Grande concert attendees Karen Moore and her daughter Molly Steed, aged 14, from Derby, leave the Park Inn where they were given refuge after last night's explosion at Manchester Arena Getty Manchester explosion in pictures Signs saying 'We love Manchester' are displayed in a window in Manchester, England Getty Images

“There was people lying on the floor everywhere. I saw a little girl... she had no legs.

“I wrapped her in one of the merchandise T-shirts and I said ‘Where is your mum and daddy?’ She said, ‘My dad is at work, my mum is up there.’”

Parker said he also tended to a woman who suffered serious head and leg injuries in the blast, adding: “She passed away in my arms. I haven’t stopped crying.”

Prosecutors said that although Parker provided “some limited assistance” to victims, he “equally” took the opportunity to commit the thefts.

He was praised around the world for his efforts to help the injured, with news reports sparking a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than £52,000.

Michael Johns, a member of the public who set up the page, said all money would be returned to almost 3,800 donors in light of Parker’s guilty pleas.

“I do this without any personal judgement on Chris and with complete respect to the ongoing court proceedings,” he added.

“I would like to extend my sympathies to his victims that night and also apologise to them for any distress this campaign may have caused them whilst they continue to recover and grieve.

“Regardless of the outcome, this was still a fine example of what can be achieved when we refuse to be cowed by those who seek to divide.”

There were calls for the donations to be passed instead to victims of the Manchester attack or a homeless charity, but the transfer is not possible under GoFundMe’s rules.

The company told The Independent it was “in full control of the funds”, which had not reached Parker.