Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

'you are getting a gift'

Man who assaulted security officer with machete sentenced to 30 days in jail

Feb 8, 2021 | 12:49 PM

A man who assaulted a hotel security officer with a machete was told by a judge he was very lucky to receive only a 30-day jail sentence for the attack.

Preston Ratt, 23, entered guilty pleas to assault and breach of a court order.

The incident happened shortly after midnight on Feb. 2 at the Ramada Hotel. According to the statement of facts read in court by Crown prosecutor Andreanne Dube, Ratt was refused access to a room and after being told to leave, pulled a machete out of his sweatpants. He then hit the security guard twice with it before running off.

Fortunately the victim was not physically cut or injured.

“[The security guard] was obviously very shaken up by what just happened,” Dube said.

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Ratt was later located by police in the 500 block of 28th St. W. where he was checking cars. Police arrested him without incident.

Noting the seriousness of the crime and Ratt’s lengthy criminal record ,which includes a history of violence, Dube explained the reason for the shorter sentence was essentially because Ratt entered an early guilty plea.

When Judge Healey questioned Dube how the officer avoided being cut by the machete, Dube did not know. She also could not recall if the weapon was seized.

“I am very frustrated by the fact of this case,” Healey told the court, before directly telling Ratt he was very fortunate the security officer was not hurt.

“You could easily have been facing a far more serious charge,” he said. “You are getting a gift.”

Ratt received credit for the seven days he spent in custody, and therefore has roughly three weeks remaining on his sentence. He also has outstanding charges from La Ronge.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell