Judith Ann Schulz refused bail for fresh stalking charge, five counts of breaching bail

A woman accused of stalking a South Burnett councillor will await her next mention behind bars after she was denied bail on a fresh stalking charge.

A magistrate has refused bail to the former campaign manager of a sitting South Burnett councillor after she was slapped with a second stalking charge, saying a self-declared “vendetta” against the councillor put her at unacceptable risk of reoffending.

Appearing before Kingaroy Magistrates Court, Judith Ann Schulz, 57, was refused bail after she was rearrested and charged with stalking and five counts of breaching bail on Wednesday.

The prosecution will allege between June 19 -July 7, Ms Schulz emailed a number of people in close contact to Cr Scott Henschen, including his partner, best friend, and a relative of one of the witnesses.

Police will also allege she broke her bail conditions on several occasions by allegedly failing to report social media accounts, and posting - or causing a post to be made - on a Wordpress blog.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair also noted an email sent to various media organisations, politicians and police officers with the subject line “suicide note: please tell my story”.

“While that does not appear to have directly breached the wording of the bail undertaking, it’s alleged that behaviour is part of the continued campaign of stalking against the complainant,” he said.

The Tingoora-based web designer was released on bail on May 19 after being arrested and charged by Murgon CIB officers with unlawful stalking and two counts of extortion.

The original charges are being contested.

Judith Ann Schulz, left, has been charged with allegedly stalking and attempting to extort her former client, SBRC Cr Scott Henschen (right). Picture: Facebook

She was released on bail under the condition she does not post or cause to be posted any social media items in relation to the complainant, the South Burnett Regional Council or any witness in the matter, and that she disclose to police all social media and email accounts she has access to.

The undertaking also specified that Ms Schulz not contact, approach or have anyone else contact or approach Cr Henschen and a number of other witnesses.

Mr Sinclair said the bail affidavit highlighted an email sent by Ms Schulz to Cr Henschen last year.

The contents read:

“One of these people advised me that a private Facebook group has been started called ‘Let’s Make Division Six Great Again’,” Mr Sinclair read.

“You can only join this group by invitation and its purpose is to get enough complaints and issues to make your life a living hell, as well as to turn people against you.

“That’s what happens when you upset a local who did the right thing by you and who you treated like absolute sh-t.”

“Now you have World War III on your hands, not just with me, but with people in the community from the north to the south of the region.”

In another email, the court heard Ms Schulz allegedly told Cr Henschen that he can “kiss (his) reputation and (his) job goodbye”, threatening to continue making complaints against him to South Burnett Regional Council CEO, the OIC and the police.

Mr Sinclair said it’s clear from these emails that Ms Schulz “intended to cause stress and harm, including loss of employment and reputation” to the complainant.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Pepe Gangemi said it’d be “ridiculous” to assume the victim would not discover the information Ms Schulz had distributed via email to his friends, family, acquaintances, and the media.

He also noted the court should also consider denying her bail for her own safety and the safety of others, based on a concerning admission made to police that she would consider committing suicide by driving into a truck.

Ms Schulz was represented by Mark Werner, who said the breaches were an attempt by his client to find witnesses to defend the original stalking charge.

“Unfortunately, she‘s made a legal aid application but at this stage has been denied,” Mr Werner said.

“So, she‘s operating without legal advice in respect to trying to mount a defence to the original charge,” Mr Werner said.

“What we seem to be looking at is an overarching situation whereby there‘s an original charge, which is contested, and somebody who is not legally represented, does have mental health issues and has gone about trying to mount a defence in not the best way.”

Ms Schulz was refused bail and will appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on August 16 for mention.