A 31-year-old man has been banned from entering the Royal Oldham Hospital for three years after a series of abusive and threatening incidents against NHS staff. Andrew Stonier was issued a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 29 June 2026, following a successful application by Oldham Council's Community Safety Team.

The order stems from incidents where Stonier made repeated threats towards nurses and hospital staff, including threats to set fire to the hospital. This behaviour caused significant disruption, with staff spending hours dealing with him, diverting valuable time and resources that could have been used for patient care.

Under the terms of the court order, Stonier is prohibited from entering the Royal Oldham Hospital until 28 June 2029, except in specific circumstances. He cannot enter any clinical area, ward, department, or outpatient facility. The only exceptions are for pre-arranged appointments, where he must arrive at a reasonable time before and leave within 30 minutes after, or if he requires genuine emergency medical treatment. The strict conditions are intended to prevent any further disruption and protect hospital staff. A breach of the order will result in arrest.

The Community Safety Team worked with partners including Greater Manchester Police and the NHS to gather evidence and secure the court order. This collaboration is part of ongoing efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime in Oldham.

An Oldham Council spokesperson said: "This individual's behaviour towards dedicated NHS staff was completely unacceptable. No one should be subjected to threatening, abusive or intimidating behaviour while carrying out their job, particularly those working tirelessly to provide care to patients. These incidents placed an unnecessary burden on hospital staff and valuable NHS time and resources were spent dealing with his vile and threatening behaviour. We took robust action to secure this Criminal Behaviour Order, which sends a clear message that behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated and we will ensure that action is taken against anyone whose behaviour causes harm, fear or disruption in our communities."

The spokesperson added: "We hope this order provides reassurance to hospital staff and the community that such behaviour is taken seriously. The council's Community Safety Team works continuously with partners to maintain safety and respect in public services."

Any breach of the Criminal Behaviour Order could lead to further criminal action and a return to court. The council's Community Safety Team works alongside Greater Manchester Police, the NHS, and other agencies to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, strengthening neighbourhoods and communities in Oldham.

This case underscores the importance of protecting NHS staff from abuse and threats. The Royal Oldham Hospital relies on a safe and respectful environment for both staff and patients. Oldham Council urges residents to support NHS staff and report any incidents of abuse or threats to the appropriate authorities.