Great Yarmouth man given restraining order after sending over 1,000 threatening emails to NHS staff
38-year-old, Gary Lanchester became frustrated when he wasn't given advice to medication or immediate contact with a GP
A Great Yarmouth man who flooded NHS workers with more than 1,200 emails containing threats and abuse has been sentenced to a suspended prison term and made subject to a restraining order.
38-year-old, Gary Lanchester, from Herries Close, resumed a campaign of harassment against healthcare professionals shortly after being released from prison for similar offences.
Between January and May 2025, Lanchester sent 1,246 emails, with some days seeing as many as 100 messages. Investigators found that during certain periods, emails were being sent as frequently as every two minutes.
The emails repeatedly demanded medication and immediate contact with a doctor. When those requests were not fulfilled, the messages became increasingly threatening.
Among the threats were warnings that he would stab NHS workers, throw acid at staff members and cause harm to employees at GP surgeries. Some emails also included statements that he would take his own life if his demands were ignored.
Lanchester was charged with two counts of sending communications that threatened death or serious harm between 29 and 31 May 2025. He admitted both offences.
Appearing before Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on 12 June 2026, he also accepted responsibility for additional offences uncovered during a police investigation by the Op Converter team.
Those offences involved sending large volumes of abusive and insulting emails between March and May 2026, despite repeated warnings to stop, as well as distributing grossly offensive messages during the same period.
The court imposed a two-year restraining order prohibiting Lanchester from behaving abusively towards healthcare workers. He was also handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
In addition, Lanchester was ordered to undertake a 12-month mental health treatment programme, complete a 15-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and pay a victim surcharge of £187.