Cappo Seafoods heir Marcus Cappo jailed for four years for multiple child sexual offences

A junior heir to an SA seafood fortune is now behind bars after he paid children hundreds of dollars for explicit videos before threatening to distribute them.

A junior heir to an SA seafood fortune who bribed and threatened children is behind bars after a judge refused to accept his offending was driven from a need for connection.

Marcus Carlo Cappo, 20, the great-grandson of the Cappo Seafoods founder, was jailed for four years after he groomed and took advantage of several young girls.

During sentencing on Friday, the District Court heard Cappo manipulated multiple victims, some of whom were only 14, between 2021 and 2022.

The court heard Capppo paid the children up to hundreds of dollars for explicit photos and videos over Snapchat or Instagram and also offered one girl $5000 for sexual activity.

Seafood heir Marcos Carlo Cappo walks into the District Court on Friday morning before being sentenced to jail. Picture: Brett Hartwig

When one victim said she didn’t want to do it anymore, Cappo threatened to expose what she’d already sent to him if she didn’t continue.

“Your offending came to light when a sexually explicit video of one victim was circulated at her school, resulting in police being notified,” Judge Michelle Sutcliffe said.

The court heard the victim had sent Cappo the video at his request and he shared it with another victim, asking her to recreate it.

Cappo’s devices were analysed and a substantial amount of “disturbing” child exploitation material was located, some involving children as young as three.

Victim impact statements from three of Cappo’s seven victims were read to the court in January by the prosecutor.

One of the victims said she now lives with shame and embarrassment after Cappo violated her privacy.

“I have been bullied and harassed at school, I have been called a sl*t to my face by the students and teachers did not tell the students off,” she said.

Marcus Carlo Cappo (right) will spend at least three years and two months in jail after pleading guilty to child sexual offences. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Cappo pleaded guilty to a multitude of charges, including possessing and disseminating child exploitation material and multiple counts of procuring a child for sexual activity.

Andrew Moffa, for Cappo, previously pushed for a good behaviour bond or suspended sentence, due to his client’s young age, ongoing treatment and developing a “real maturity” over the past 18-months.

Cappo’s treating psychologist Paul Kasspidis previously told the court in his evidence he had significant concerns that Cappo, who has learning difficulties, was so socially naive he would be upfront with other prisoners about what he’s been charged with.

Cappo is a member of the Cappo Seafood family, which has been a mainstay of the Adelaide Central Markets and operated in SA since 1919.

Marcus is the great-grandson of Carlo Cappo and son of internationally renowned Cappo Seafoods co-director Matthew Cappo, who is a third-generation owner of the iconic South Australian company.

There is no suggestion Carlo or Matthew Cappo or Cappo Seafoods are involved in any of Marcus Cappo’s charges.

Judge Sutcliffe said she did not accept the driver of Cappo’s offending was a need for emotional connection, as opined by Dr Kasspidis.

“The only rational explanation is that it was born out of a need for sexual gratification,” she said.

Judge Sutcliffe said she accepted Cappo was remorseful but the offending was serious and children needed to be protected.

She sentenced Cappo to four years jail, with a non-parole period of three years and two months.

Originally published as Cappo Seafoods heir Marcus Cappo jailed for four years for multiple child sexual offences