Jailed for life: Man who attempted to murder a probation officer in Preston

A man who attempted to murder a probation officer in Preston has been jailed for life today at Liverpool Crown Court.

Ryan Gee, 35, was jailed for life with a 16 year minimum term, after pleading guilty to a number of offences against probation colleagues including attempted murder.

In a pre-meditated attack, Gee repeatedly stabbed a female probation officer, causing life threatening injuries, after attending a scheduled meeting armed with two knives and an imitation firearm on 22 July 2025.

Martin Hill, Senior District Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in the North West, said: “Ryan Gee armed himself with two knives and an imitation firearm before attending a meeting with his probation officer.

“Projecting his anger at his own situation towards probation staff, he attempted to murder a probation officer and threatened two other staff members in this terrifying attack on public servants going about their duties.

“The long-lasting physical and emotional impact of Gee’s attack cannot be overstated.

“My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I hope following today’s sentence; they can put this horrific incident behind them and move forward with their lives.”

How the crime unfolded

Gee armed himself with two knives and an imitation firearm, later found to be a BB gun, before attending his appointment with his probation officer on 22 July 2025.

In what was clearly a pre-planned attack, he pulled a large knife and the imitation firearm from his backpack and lunged at his probation officers’ upper body, stabbing her in the chest.

Gee chased her into the reception area before stabbing her again. Colleagues helped her to a different part of the building whilst others tried to reason with Gee.

He threatened a member of staff in the reception area with the knife and the imitation firearm, keeping her trapped in the reception area whilst he placed a letter to a different probation officer in a tray within the office.

Gee was pacing around the reception office when police arrived a short time later and arrested him.

Police seized the letter Gee left in the reception office, which was addressed to a different probation officer telling her she was partly responsible for his actions.

Police also recovered a notebook detailing his thoughts about the probation service.

Victim impact

The probation officer who was stabbed was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where she was treated for four stab wounds.

Following extensive surgeries and treatment she was discharged from hospital on 2 September, some six weeks after the attack.

The court heard that the injuries she sustained will leave a permanent impact.

In a moving victim personal statement read to the court, the probation officer outlined the severe psychological impact, saying: “I play the events of that day continuously over and over in my head, on a constant loop that I cannot escape from. It consumes me. I find myself catastrophising every situation, constantly scanning rooms for exits in case I need to escape. What was once ordinary now feels unsafe.”