A man has been given a life sentence after using a large kitchen knife to stab a probation officer in Preston.
Ryan Gee, 35, was at Preston Probation office, at The Pavilions in Ashton-on-Ribble, on 22 July for an appointment with probation staff as he was on supervision after a previous sentence.
He was taken into a room for a meeting with two staff. The victim who is a woman in her 30s and a male probation officer who was Gee’s accommodation and support officer.
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Gee was described as angry and having a different demeanour than in previous dealings with probation staff.
He reached inside his rucksack and pulled out a large knife and a black replica handgun and used a swinging motion to stab the probation officer in the shoulder and under her armpit.
The probation officers fled the room with Gee chasing the male officer before turning to follow the woman to the reception desk area.
He stabbed her again in the stomach before staff took her to safety.
But Gee locked himself in reception with the female receptionist and held the handgun towards her head, saying he was not going to harm her. He was still holding the knife used to stab the victim.
Armed police arrived at the Pavilions shortly after.
Gee was heard to have said ‘You’re going to have to shoot me’ before he was tasered, detained and arrested in the reception area.
The victim was given first-aid treatment at the scene where she was taken straight into the operating theatre due to the severity of her wounds.
Gee pleaded guilty at a previous hearing at Liverpool Crown Court to attempted murder, false imprisonment, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, two offences of possession of a bladed article and threatening a person with an offensive weapon.
On Monday (12 January), Gee was given a life sentence and will have to serve a minimum of 15 years and 193 days before he can apply for parole. If he is granted parole, Gee would be on licence for the rest of his life.
Detective Inspector Manny Acheampong of Preston CID, said: “This was a vicious knife attack on a probation officer while she was doing her job.
“She was entitled to feel safe in her work environment, but Ryan Gee chose to arm himself with a kitchen knife and an imitation firearm when attending a meeting at the probation offices and launch the attack.
“My thoughts continue to be with the victim as she recovers physically and mentally from this horrific assault.
“I want to praise the actions of our officers who arrived at the probation office within a few minutes of the 999 call being made.
“They quickly arrested Gee to make the scene safe and gave vital first-aid treatment to the victim.”
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