Danny Rattew: Thug blames COVID over sickening bashing of 91yo

The drunken father behind the bloody attack on a 91-year-old man at a Rockingham yacht club last year has been jailed, after it was revealed in court he behaved so violently in lock-up that he had to be sedated. Danny Rattew, 37, appeared in Rockingham Magistrates Court on Friday over a senseless attack that also involved his eight-year-old son outside the Cruising Yacht Club in Rockingham on the night of August 19 last year. The court was told it had been Rattew’s first night out since having COVID and this contributed to his increased intoxication. The 37-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing bodily harm to the 91-year-old great-grandfather, criminal damage, obstructing public officers, failing to comply with a request to give police personal details and disorderly behaviour in a police station or lock-up. Lawyer Abigail Rogers said Rattew was “at a loss as to how the incident came about” and “how he became so intoxicated” on the night. “He has very limited recollection of the actual incident. He is at a loss to explain how his son became involved in the situation and at the time misread the situation,”she said. Prosecutor Sen. Const. Jessica Anderson told the court Rattew had attended the club with his two children aged five and eight on August 19 last year. After being refused service an angry Rattew left with his children. Outside Rattew’s eight-year-old son approached the elderly man who was sitting in a parked car and repeatedly punched him in the head. The boy walked away before Rattew started on the man, punching him three more times. The victim had serious facial injuries to his eye and cheekbone and had to be taken to hospital. After the assault Rattew and his children caught a taxi home but he became frustrated and kicked the driver’s car as it reversed, damaging the front bumper. Police later attended Rattew’s home where he resisted arrest, prompting police to carry and force him into a police vehicle. In lock-up Rattew abused, spat and swore at officers and St John WA was called in to sedate him. Sen. Const. Anderson said Rattew carried out a “vicious and cowardly attack on an elderly man. “It’s disgusting. That’s my word for it,” she said. In a victim impact statement the elderly man said he “now lives in fear” and “knowing there are people like this around has completely changed the way (he) views the world”. Magistrate Anne Longden said though the eight-year-old was involved footage had shown the children looked visibly “frightened” and “worried” throughout the incident. Ms Longden said the assault was extremely serious. “This was a vulnerable person within the community and any sentence imposed needs to reflect this.” She sentenced Rattew to two years and three months jail, plus a $1000 fine.