Current timestamp: 20/07/2025 17:53:42
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal Activity[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-location' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Leave this site

Cookies

We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.

You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.

Accept cookies Reject cookies Customise cookies

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

Greater Manchester Police crest

  • Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Spiking
    • Stalking or harassment
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
    • Hate crime
  • Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
  • Back to Apply or register

    • Careers and volunteering
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Back to Request

    • Compensation for something the police have done
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
    • Request an update
  • Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Feedback about the website
    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
  • Your area
  1. ...
  2. News

Knife-wielding man in Stockport medical centre jailed for over three years

Main article content

News
Published: 14:04 25/08/2021

A man who attempted to take staff hostage in a medical centre and swung a meat cleaver at a woman has been jailed.

Michael Brannigan (30/08/1970), from Stockport, has today been sentenced to over three years imprisonment after pleading guilty to four counts of possession of an offensive weapon, robbery, criminal damage, assault by beating and affray.

At around 12.20pm on Friday 12 March 2021, officers received a report of an assault that had occurred on Oldham Drive, Woodley.

Enquiries established Brannigan had pulled up alongside a car and signalled for the driver of the vehicle to put his window down. As he did so, Brannigan poked a walking stick through the window and struck the driver across the face. Brannigan then proceeded to kick at the vehicle and began to wave a knife that had fallen from his pocket at the occupants of the car.

Ten minutes later police received a further call from a chemist on Woodley Precinct, Stockport claiming a man - Brannigan - had demanded they hand over medication to him after threatening them with a knife.

Four minutes later police received another call from Woodley Health Centre stating Brannigan was threatening staff with a knife and smashing windows inside the surgery. During the disturbance staff members barricaded themselves into offices as Brannigan continually banged on the door with his walking stick.

Whilst continue to scream and shout he pulled out a kitchen knife from his bag before picking up an office chair and smashing a window inside the surgery. He then declared he was taking one member of staff hostage and allowed all the others in the surgery to leave saying "If I see you again, I'm coming for you".

Before staff were able to intervene and secure Brannigan in the waiting room he attempted to swing a meat cleaver at another member of staff, thankfully without making contact.

Police swiftly arrived and as an officer approached she could see Brannigan holding a metal pole with a weighted based, which he refused to put down. He then subsequently lunged at the attending officers but was quickly detained on the floor.

As he was restrained two knives fell from his back pockets and onto the floor.

Detective Constable Stephen Rothery of GMP's Stockport CID district, said: "Firstly I want to commend the actions of the officers who first attended the scene as their swift actions were instrumental in ensuring Brannigan was unable to terrorise or worse injure any people in his path.

"Brannigan wreaked havoc in a very short space of time and threatened multiple people with knives, not sparing a thought for the fear or distress that this could cause them. When he was arrested he was found to be carrying multiple knives so who knows what further damage or injury he could have caused to others if he hadn't been apprehended.

"Thankfully we've been able to secure a custodial sentence for him of 41 months today and I'm glad we've been able to remove another dangerous individual from our streets."

Michael brannigan
Brannigan was jailed for 41 months at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court today

Share

Footer navigation

Greater Manchester Police

  • Contact us
  • Find a police station
  • News
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Feedback

Partners

  • Partner services
  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police
  • The Mayor of Greater Manchester
  • Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Follow us on

© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.