Paramedics welcome jailing of man who repeatedly assaulted and threatened them

London Ambulance Service paramedics have welcomed the jailing of a man who repeatedly assaulted and threatened them over a number of years. John Dannaher, 33, continued to abuse staff despite a Criminal Behaviour Order which banned him from being in any ambulance unless he had a life-threatening illness or injury. Clinical Team Manager Scott Lummes spent two years building a case against Dannaher after a colleague reported that she had been verbally abused while trying to treat him at Kings Cross station. When Scott began investigating, he discovered around 40 separate reports had been made about Dannaher, which included physical assaults and spitting as well as verbal abuse and threats – but only resulting in one custodial sentence. Dannaher continued to harass and abuse ambulance staff which resulted in him being jailed for 181 days after pleading guilty to breaching the order at Colchester Magistrates Court last month.