Robert Moretti pleads guilty to stabbing his escort girlfriend’s client during Jesmond brothel brawl

Robert Moretti had turned up at the Jesmond brothel after arguing with his girlfriend. He stabbed a client three times after mistakenly thinking the man had called him “a w**ker”.

Taxi driver Robert Moretti has admitted stabbing a brothel client three times, including once in the groin, during a brawl which erupted after the victim had had sex with Moretti’s brothel-working girlfriend.

Moretti, 58, had turned up at the Jesmond brothel on the evening of July 27 after accusing his girlfriend of socialising with clients during a series of angry text messages.

His girlfriend, who had been with another prostitute and two men in a bedroom, told Moretti to sit in a lounge room while she finished “servicing” the clients.

Supplied Editorial Robert Moretti leaving Newcastle Courthouse. Picture: Emily Burley

But the visit tuned violent when Moretti believed he had been called “a w**ker” by one of the two clients.

“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.

“During the course of the fight, the offender used a knife to stab the victim twice – once in the abdomen and once to the groin area. The knife also made contact to the victim’s arm.’’

Moretti’s girlfriend ran down the brothel’s stairs and grabbed hold of Moretti’s hand, which was holding the knife.

The victim and his friend, who had been shouted the brothel trip to celebrate a 50th birthday, escaped before the victim collapsed and started vomiting.

He spent two days in hospital recovering from the wounds.

Supplied Editorial Robert Moretti leaving Newcastle Courthouse. Picture: Emily Burley

Moretti pleaded guilty in Newcastle District Court on Thursday to reckless wounding causing actual bodily harm.

A more serious charge of intentionally wounding causing grievous bodily harm was withdrawn by prosecutors upon Moretti’s guilty plea.

He will face Newcastle District Court for sentencing on February 3.