BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Mar. 26, 2015–A Ladyville man who was recently released from prison after serving a fourteen-month sentence was sentenced to two years in prison this morning when he appeared for sentencing before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith, who had remanded him in custody yesterday after he pleaded guilty to one count of harm upon his wife, who had a court restraining order against him.
Smith told Nathan Pratt, 46, “You obviously have a serious issue with anger. You like to beat women and you are a bully. I am going to send you away so you can learn how to control your anger. You are sentenced to two years in prison.”
Yesterday when Smith learned that Pratt’s wife had taken out a restraining order against him on March 15, she deferred sentencing him until today, so that the court prosecutor could furnish the court with a copy of the restraining order.
Pratt had told the court yesterday that he did not beat his wife and cause the wound for which police had charged him. This morning, however, Pratt’s wife appeared in court and told the Chief Magistrate that the still visible bruises she had were caused when Pratt entered her home and beat her.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, March 24, when Pratt went to his wife’s house, allegedly grabbed her by the hair, choked her and punched her.
“I agree that I went to the house, but I did not cause those injuries,” Pratt told the court.
Pratt told the court yesterday that he had told his wife, “I only want to talk to you, baby. Please don’t call the police! I don’t want to hurt you.”