The Rock Community Church says it hopes that Jonathan Le Tocq’s many victims are receiving “the care and support they need”.

The church has issued a statement following the sentencing of the disgraced former pastor and politician.

He was yesterday jailed for nine years after committing a string of “abhorrent crimes” over nearly a decade.

Le Tocq had admitted 15 offences, committed between 2016 and 2025.

His crimes included downloading indecent images of children, creating pseudo indecent images including using images of women and children known to him, sending indecent messages and images through the telecommunications network, distributing indecent images of children, and the possession of extreme pornography.

His actions have prompted law changes, with Guernsey Police confirming they’re working the Home Affairs’ Committee following Le Tocq’s “sickening”abhorrent” crimes – the likes of which have never been dealt with by Guernsey’s courts before.

Not only was he Guernsey’s former Chief minister, the island’s former External Relations Minister, and a successful election candidate last year, but he was also a pastor at the Rock Community Church. 

The Royal Court heard he had abused the trust placed in him by his church community and the island’s wider community.

A spokesperson for the St Sampson’s based Church on the Rock said its community is “profoundly shocked and horrified by these offences, which represent a devastating betrayal of trust”.

The Church spokesperson said they’ve also extended their thoughts and prayers to his many victims, adding they “hope they receive the care and support they need”.

The Church said Le Tocq’s crimes “were deeply serious, and we echo the court’s recognition of the life changing and lifelong impact of these crimes”.

  • Pictured: The full statement issued by Rock Community Church.
  • Pictured: The full statement from the NSPCC.
  • Pictured: That full statement from New Grounds Churches.

Le Tocq was a paid employee of the Church on the Rock with his position as pastor funded by New Ground Churches, which operates across the UK and France. 

The Christian organisation issued a statement following his sentencing, which emphasised the damage caused by Le Tocq, saying that “the crimes for which he has been sentenced are abhorrent and have caused real and lasting harm”. 

The spokesperson said the crimes “represent a profound betrayal of trust” and that as an organisation they “recognise the gravity of what has taken place and the deep distress this has brought to many”.

New Ground’s spokesperson added that they are “grateful for the work of the police and those within the legal system who have worked to bring these offences to light so that justice could be served,” adding that their “hope is for continued care, restoration and healing for those who have been affected”.

His positions within government and the church have wide reaching consequences, and the spokesperson from New Ground has recognised this in the statement. 

“This news continues to impact many people, especially within the Guernsey community and also across our churches.” 

New Ground provided the funding for his role as a pastor with Rock Community Church, and supported Le Tocq’s work founding Churches in France. 

Their spokesperson said that the organisation will “remain committed to reflecting carefully on all that has come to light and to upholding strong safeguarding practices.

“Our priority is that individuals feel safe, heard and supported, whichever route they choose to seek help.”

Pictured: Le Tocq was jailed for nine years by Guernsey’s Royal Court.

Le Tocq’s positions of power within the community drew attention throughout yesterday’s sentencing. 

The prosecution said “there is no doubt of his high standing in Guernsey” and that “he abused that trust particularly by using images of people he knew”. 

The defence agreed that he has “let down our island community and the many who have supported and voted for (him) over the years” and that he knows he has “dishonoured the values he has stood for”. 

Advocate Claire Tee suggested Le Tocq “had an intellectual curiosity in the impact of child sexual abuse” that had been “fed by his work as a faith leader where people had confided in him” about their own abuse. 

She also said the creation of images was “a self serving strategy” to deal with “the stress of his political work”, “his faith work”, and “his long absences from home”.  

Le Tocq’s advocate further described his behaviour as a form of escape. 

In response, during sentencing, Judge Catherine Fooks “you are previously of good character, and it must be acknowledged that you have worked hard for your community including as chief minister and for your church”.

She said the five character references offered on his behalf “speak highly” of his work for Guernsey’s community and his “good character”. 

“This community put its trust in you” because “it believed you were a man of impeccable character and faith,” she said.

Pictured: Le Tocq placed 9th out of 82 candidates in Guernsey’s election last year, receiving 8,002 votes from the public, just weeks before his arrest.

The NSPCC has reiterated the statement it shared when Le Tocq pleaded guilty to his crimes in December. 

The charity said his crimes shine a light on the need “for tech companies to protect children and prevent offenders like Le Tocq from accessing and sharing child sexual abuse content on their platforms”.

“Anyone with concerns for the wellbeing of a child can speak to our trained advisors at the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 8005000 or at help@nspcc.org.uk.

“Children can speak to a Childline counsellor on 0800 1111 or at childline.org.uk.”