GIOVANNI GIACOPAZZI: BOGNOR REGIS AND PLYMOUTH SEX OFFENDER STRIKES AGAIN

In a disturbing case that spans decades and multiple locations, Giovanni Giacopazzi, a man originally from Bognor Regis who has since been residing in Plymouth, has been convicted of heinous sexual offenses against young children. The series of crimes, which have left a trail of trauma and heartbreak, were uncovered after a lengthy investigation and court proceedings that revealed a pattern of abuse dating back to the 1970s.

Giacopazzi, now aged 52, was found guilty in March 2009 of sexually abusing two young girls, aged four and eight at the time of the assaults. The abuse occurred on several occasions at an address in Bognor Regis, where the crimes initially took place between 1974 and 1977. The victims, who were already suffering from abuse by another man during that period, endured further suffering at the hands of Giacopazzi. The allegations came to light in late 2007 when police were informed of similar offenses committed against a young boy and two other girls between 1989 and 1992, for which Giacopazzi had previously served a four-year prison sentence.

A relative of the victims expressed their outrage, stating, “I am disgusted by it. The victims have gone through a big ordeal for quite some time. People should be encouraged to come out with it, they should be allowed to be free of it. It is the worst offence to do in my book. They should throw away the key.” The court heard that Giacopazzi attempted to deny the allegations, claiming that the girls mistook him for the man who had already been abusing them. However, evidence presented during the trial detailed multiple instances of his misconduct, including touching the girls’ private parts on more than one occasion, licking one girl’s private parts, and coercing her to touch his private parts.

Judge Claudia Ackner described Giacopazzi’s manipulative tactics, noting that he kept his victims silent through bribes and threats, and told them they would be called “dirty liars” if they disclosed the abuse. The jury took less than an hour to find him guilty of all ten charges, which included nine counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child. The court sentenced him to a total of seven years in prison, a sentence to run concurrently with the four-year term he was already serving for earlier offenses.

In a separate but related case from January 2008, Giacopazzi, then aged 50, was convicted of multiple sexual offenses committed at his home in Bognor Regis. He pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting three children—one boy and two girls—who were all under 16 during the early 1990s. The court heard that Giacopazzi engaged in inappropriate behavior, including touching a girl’s private parts while playfully swinging her around, licking her private parts as she lay on a bed, and asking her to put her hands on his private parts. Another girl was asked to perform a sexual act on him in his downstairs toilet, and on another occasion, she was instructed to perform a sexual act on him in his bedroom.

The victims reported these incidents to the police in August of that year, leading to Giacopazzi’s arrest. During his time on bail, he attempted to take his own life by cutting his wrists and throat, which resulted in his hospitalization. Prosecutor Mike Newbold highlighted that Giacopazzi had made confessions to his wife, admitting guilt. The court found him guilty of three counts of indecent assault against children under 14, two counts of inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency, and one count of gross indecency with a child. Judge Anthony Thorpe emphasized the gravity of Giacopazzi’s actions, stating that he had exploited his victims and caused significant pain to their families.

Giacopazzi was sentenced to four years in prison for these offenses, and he was also banned from working with children for life. Additionally, he will be registered on the sex offenders register permanently, ensuring strict monitoring of his activities moving forward. The court’s verdict underscores the serious nature of sexual crimes against minors and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children from predators like Giovanni Giacopazzi.