Published: Thursday, 25th June, 2009 10:15am

Former Largs man on rape charge

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A FORMER Largs businessman has admitted raping two young women.

Giovanni Cocozza had sex with one of his frightened victims while she clutched the hand of her toddler son.

The man, now 76, also sexually assaulted five other girls during a twelve year campaign of abuse between 1964 and 1976 the High Court in Glasgow was told.

Cocozza - once a well known chip shop and ice cream van owner in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire - admitted to eight charges including rape and acting in a lewd and libidinous manner.

Cocozza, of Low Waters Road, Hamilton, had been due to face trial on a total of 17 sex charges and six assaults.

However, prosecutors accepted his guilty pleas to the reduced amount.

Cocozza was placed on the sex offenders" list and will appear at the High Court in Edinburgh on July 13 for sentencing.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S LARGS NEWS.