Robert Moretti avoids jail over brothel stabbing

A man who stabbed his sex worker girlfriend’s client after mistakenly thinking he called him a “wanker” has avoided full-time custody.

A man who stabbed his sex worker girlfriend’s client after mistakenly thinking he called him a “wanker” has avoided full-time custody.

Taxi driver Robert Moretti, 60, was sentenced on Friday in the Newcastle District Court to an intensive supervision order for a year and 10 months, which is the most serious form of punishment to be served in the community.

The man brawled with his sex worker girlfriend’s customer. Picture: iStock

This included 180 hours of community service and a mental health treatment plan.

He pleaded guilty last year to reckless wounding causing actual bodily harm after a more serious charge of intentionally wounding was dropped by prosecutors.

The court heard how Moretti had been fighting with his girlfriend via text message on July 27, 2020, before driving to her Jesmond brothel where she was “servicing” the victim and his friend.

His girlfriend asked him to wait in a room while she finished with her clients.

When the victim and his friend were leaving the brothel, the court heard they commented on Moretti’s behaviour, before he confronted them.

“At this point, the victim pushed the offender. This resulted in a fight. Punches were thrown by the victim and the offender,’’ an agreed statement of facts said.

Moretti stabbed the victim in the abdomen and the groin.

The court heard Moretti told authorities he could have ignored the remarks, but it was “weak for a male to walk away from an argument”.

But a psychologist found he had genuine remorse for the victim, who was hospitalised and struggled with psychological issues after the attack.

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