Cappo Seafoods heir Marcus Cappo pleads guilty to child sexual offences in various SA suburbs

A business empire heir who paid young girls to send him explicit photos before spreading them online would suffer “serious difficulties” in jail, a court heard.

A junior heir to an SA seafood fortune who has admitted to vile child sexual offences will suffer more in jail due to his extreme social naivety, a court heard.

Marcus Carlo Cappo, the great-grandson of the Cappo Seafoods founder, groomed and took advantage of several young girls, including paying some for explicit photos.

Victim impact statements of three of Cappo’s seven victims were read to the District Court on Tuesday by the prosecutor.

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

“How can someone do this with no remorse?” she said.

Marcus Cappo leaving the Adelaide Magistrates Court after an earlier appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

“The video went around my school, it has changed everyone’s opinions about me.

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

The victim said her anxiety has now become unbearable.

“I am humiliated beyond belief, I worry that people still have this video and will hold it or use it against me in the future for whatever reason” she said.

The third victim said Cappo took advantage of her.

“He thinks that can wave money in front of 15 to 16-year-old girls faces and get what he wants,” she said.

Giving evidence, Cappo’s treating psychologist, Paul Kasspidis said he had significant concerns that Cappo was so socially naive he would be upfront with other prisoners about what he’s been charged with.

“It is an open invitation for some serious difficulties,” he said.

Dr Kasspidis said Cappo became very distressed and shut down whenever the charges were brought up.
During cross examination, Dr Kasspidis told the court he was given little information about Cappo’s child exploitation material charges, including some of the files being of “very young children”.

After receiving a factual summary Dr Kasspidis said would have asked Cappo further questions about his pornography history and was “reeling” after reading there were over half a million pornographic images.

Andrew Moffa, for Cappo, told the court his client had significant learning disabilities and was “relatively unsophisticated” and had limited life experience.

The court heard Cappo was bullied at school, leading to him being home schooled at 13.

Mr Moffa pushed for a suspended sentence, due to Cappo’s young age and his ongoing treatment.

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.

According to court documents the allegations happened at Pooraka and Greenwith between September 2021 and December 2022.

Cappo, 20, of Cheltenham, 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.

The prosecutor asked Judge Michelle Sutcliffe to give little weight to Dr Kasspidis’ report due to lack of information provided about some of the charges.

Judge Sutcliffe adjourned Cappo’s charges until next week to determine whether a further report will be obtained.

Originally published as Cappo Seafoods heir Marcus Cappo pleads guilty to child sexual offences in various SA suburbs