A MAN has been sentenced to a year in prison after continually breaching the conditions of his criminal behaviour order by absuing and threatening NHS staff, sometimes sexually, at four major hospitals in Surrey.

Ben Etherington, 37, from Guildford, pleaded guilty to two breaches of his five-year criminal behaviour order when he appeared at Staines Magistrates’ Court on October 29.

The order was granted in March to tackle his persistent drunken and anti-social behaviour in Surrey, which significantly impacts upon a number of local hospitals, including the Royal Surrey and Frimley Park.

Etherington committed the breaches while he was subject to a suspended sentence, made on October 18 in relation to a further breach of his criminal behaviour order. All three breaches related to him being intoxicated and behaving in an anti-social manner.

At the original hearing when the criminal behaviour order was granted, held on March 12, magistrates were presented with in excess of 400 pages of evidence from the Surrey Police anti-social behaviour team outlining Etherington’s threatening and abusive behaviour over a number of years mainly impacting on ambulance and hospital staff.

The court heard Etherington would attend Frimley Park, the Royal Surrey County Hospital and Farnham Road Hospital in Guildford, and St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, and act in an abusive and sexually inappropriate manner towards hospital staff.

He would often present himself at these hospitals, sometimes multiple times daily, and then refuse to leave once treated.

Since the order was granted in March, Etherington was frequently arrested for his drunk and disorderly behaviour not only in Guildford, but in other areas of Surrey.

The criminal behaviour order was extended to prohibit Etherington from attending these locations following an application before the court by Surrey Police on October 5.

The current conditions of the criminal behaviour order prohibit Etherington from attending or loitering outside the grounds of Frimley Park Hospital, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Farnham Road Hospital or St Peter’s Hospital Chertsey unless he requires emergency medical treatment or has a prior appointment confirmed in writing.

He is also prohibited from remaining inside or loitering outside the grounds of Frimley Park Hospital, Royal Surrey County Hospital or Farnham Road Hospital once he has been discharged and asked to leave by hospital staff or a police officer.

Etherington has also been banned from a community centre in Guildford as well as a property in Elmbridge, and will breach his criminal behaviour order if found drunk or in possession of any alcohol in Guildford town centre.

Lucy Lumsden, of Surrey Police, said: “I hope this sentence will give much-needed respite to the local community, the emergency services and NHS staff from Etherington’s abusive and threatening behaviour.”