IVO LUCIGNOLI FROM SWANSEA SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR HORRIFIC CHILD RAPES

In a case that has shocked the community of Swansea, a 79-year-old man named Ivo Lucignoli has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 12 years after being found guilty of heinous sexual offenses involving two young girls. The crimes, which took place nearly four decades ago, have left deep scars on the victims and have garnered significant media attention.

Lucignoli, who resided on Glanmor Road in the Uplands area of Swansea, was convicted following an eight-day trial at Swansea Crown Court. The court heard harrowing details of his actions, which the judge described as 'truly evil.' During the sentencing hearing, Judge John Diehl QC expressed his condemnation of Lucignoli’s conduct, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes. The judge stated, 'This was the targeting of two young girls when both were under 13, and you know they have not made it up.'

It was revealed that Lucignoli moved to the United Kingdom from Italy in 1955 at the age of 24. His early years in the country saw him working in the steel industry in Llanelli, and later at the Ford factory located in Jersey Marine. The police became involved in the case in January of the previous year after a woman came forward, alleging that Lucignoli had raped her as a child. Despite his denials, he was arrested and questioned by authorities. Subsequently, a second woman also contacted detectives, claiming she had been raped by him during her childhood.

Throughout the trial, Lucignoli maintained his innocence, asserting that no sexual misconduct had occurred between him and either of the women. However, he did admit in a pre-trial defense statement to indecently assaulting one of the victims. When questioned about this admission in court, Lucignoli claimed it was untrue and that he had been not thinking clearly when he signed the statement. He further explained that he believed making such an admission might halt the case from progressing further.

Prosecutor Jim Davis highlighted the compelling nature of the victims’ testimonies, asserting that Lucignoli’s willingness to admit to indecent assault was only a fraction of the misconduct he had committed. Davis stated that Lucignoli knew he had done 'very much more than that,' implying a pattern of predatory behavior.

The prosecution argued that after the initial assaults, which occurred nearly 40 years ago, Lucignoli had used threats to silence his victims, effectively preventing them from speaking out for decades. This prolonged period of silence was broken when the victims finally came forward, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial.

In mitigation, Lucignoli’s defense lawyer, Huw Wallace, acknowledged that imprisonment was inevitable but urged the court to impose the shortest possible sentence, citing his client’s advanced age and what was described as his 'otherwise impeccable' character. Despite these pleas, Judge Diehl emphasized the severity of Lucignoli’s crimes, noting the profound and lasting harm inflicted upon the victims. One of the victims provided a statement describing her 'lifetime ordeal,' and the judge remarked that the psychological damage and mental suffering caused by Lucignoli’s actions might never fully heal.

Judge Diehl concluded by condemning Lucignoli’s denial of the crimes, stating, 'The devastation here is plain to see – you can almost feel it – and your wicked behavior has brought all this about.' The judge sentenced Lucignoli to 12 years in prison, emphasizing that this was the minimum he could impose given the circumstances and the gravity of the offenses committed.