Casanova back to prison

Defendant in altercation with pregnant solicitor in watchhouse

A PREGNANT solicitor has withdrawn her services from the man dubbed the “prison Casanova” after a frightening altercation with him in the Toowoomba watchhouse on Thursday morning.

Wade Bartz was in custody after a decision to indefinitely revoke his parole this week, meaning he will officially be going back to jail.

It is understood that numerous police officers were forced into action during what was meant to be a meeting between Bartz and his solicitor to discuss legal options after being picked up by police on a return to prison warrant.

“There was an incident between myself and Mr Bartz this morning where watchhouse staff had to intervene,” Emma Fogerty told the Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

A police spokesman said Bartz had become enraged and aggressive before he started yelling at the solicitor in the watchhouse.

Ms Fogerty’s request came after numerous court staff claimed the solicitor was “shaken up” by the altercation.

Magistrate Damien Carroll went as far to to ask if she was okay during the brief mention.

Bartz’s heightened state had police on alert yesterday morning, with the on duty prosecutor arguing he should not be brought up into the dock for his matter as he posed a threat.

“Well he can stay down there until he settles down,” Magistrate Carroll said.

It is understood another Toowoomba law firm has taken on Bartz’s case, which was adjourned without his presence, to be heard back in the same court on July 20.

His charges of common assault and domestic violence assault occasioning bodily harm relate to an incident in March where he allegedly stomped on a woman’s head and threatened to kill her. It is unclear whether police have laid more charges against him after yesterday’s altercation.

Bartz gained notoriety in the 1998 for having sex with a prison psychologist while incarcerated and added to his “Casanova” reputation by escaping jail twice to meet up with his girlfriend in 2001.