Man jailed for six and a half years over Manchester GP surgery assaults

A man has been sentenced to six and a half years in jail after pleading guilty to four assaults of staff at a GP surgery in Manchester.

Olumuiwa Oduntan received the sentence last week (23 May), having attacked members of staff at a GP surgery in 2021 with a metal barrier pole after he was unable to get a same-day appointment.

The 61-year-old plead guilty to four assaults including affray, grievous and actual bodily harm.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police said Olumuiwa Oduntan was ‘sentenced to six-and-a-half years at Minshull Street Crown Court, after pleading guilty to four assaults, including grievous and actual bodily harm as well as an affray.

‘This was after he was found not guilty from a five-day trial of three Section 18 assaults back in March 2024. He will still be issued with a restraining order.’

In March, Mr Oduntan was found not guilty of ‘wounding with intent’ by a jury, but it was announced at the time that he would still be sentenced with regards to the counts to which he plead guilty.

The police statement continued: ‘The court heard how at around 11am on Friday 17 September 2021, Oduntan telephoned his GP surgery on Ashton Old Road, Manchester to book an appointment. He became aggressive and threatening when he was told that there weren’t any appointments available that day.

‘A couple of hours later, he attended the surgery and became aggressive and violent towards the staff at the front desk, who had a protective screen in front of them. Oduntan smashed the screen with a barrier pole before climbing onto the desk and entering the reception area.

‘The surgery’s doctor, and three female staff members, made attempts to detain Oduntan but all sustained significant head injuries from the barrier pole he used. A third member of staff was strangled by the defendant.

‘Our officers attended and Oduntan was taken into custody, where he was questioned and later charged and remanded.’

DC Philippa Barker from GMP North Manchester CID said: ‘We are pleased with today’s result and hope it gives the victims, who each sustained serious injuries through unprovoked violence some peace and enables them to heal from this horrific experience.

‘Violence in any form is not tolerated by GMP and we ensure that every case reported to us is thoroughly investigated. In this case, we are grateful to the victims and their willingness to support the prosecution through to trial and subsequent conviction and sentence.’

This is the latest in a series of attacks against GP practices, including a stabbing at a London GP surgery last week in which a male medical practitioner was injured.

According to the Metropolitan Police the attacker – 63-year-old Gary Bartlett, of Sidcup, Kent – has now ‘been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and grievous bodily harm with intent’.

He appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 25 May and will next appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 21 June, the police said.

‘The incident happened in Granville Road, Dartford on 23 May – a man was taken to hospital for treatment; his condition is not life threatening.’

Earlier this month, a man was arrested outside a GP surgery in Stoke-on-Trent following an incident involving a bow and arrow.

And in April, three GP surgeries in North Lincolnshire had to suddenly close after the police alerted them of a threat.