John Coffey dob 19/08/1975, of no fixed address from Limerick pleaded guilty to Section 4 Public Order Act on 8th January 2010 at Thames Magistrates Court.

Officers from Spitalfields & Banglatown Safer Neighbourhoods team were called to assist a London Ambulance Service ambulance crew with a male in the Pride of Spitalfields Public House on Heanage Street, on 7th January 2010. The male (John Coffey) had been abusive and aggressive and had been drinking heavily. He was subsequently arrested for being Drunk & Disorderly.

One of the paramedics then recognised and identified Coffey as a man who used threatening behaviour towards her at University College Hospital on the 27th October 2009 in Camden. He was then further arrested for a Public Order offence. Coffey had used offensive language towards her, but had also attempted to spit on her and continued to threaten her to the point where she thought she would be assaulted.

Coffey was taken to Bethnal Green Police Station. He was charged the following morning with Drunk and Disorderly and taken to Thames Magistrates Court. At court the CPS lay an additional charge of Section 4 Public Order Act.

He was sentenced on 18th January 2010 to 3 months immediate imprisonment, after he pleaded guilty, (no separate penalty for the Drunk & Disorderly on 07/01/10).

PC Brendan O'Rourke Spitalfields & Banglatown SNT said: " Police will always support our colleagues in any of the emergency services. They are often the first to attend dangerous situations to help the public. Violence and abuse towards them will not be tolerated."