Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq’s “heinous crimes” have turned peoples’ lives upside down and represent a “profound betrayal of the trust so many had placed in him”, according to the Chief Minister.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said today that her thoughts are with his victims and “all others affected by his actions”.
The President of Policy and Resources has worked alongside Le Tocq since 2012 when she was first elected. He was first elected to the States, representing the Castel, in 2000.
He took a break from politics in 2008 before being re-elected in 2012 and he has been in the States continuously since then.
Deputy de Sausmarez said today that his “guilty plea has deepened my heartbreak and empathy for his victims”.
He has admitted 15 charges which include thousands of counts of making and distributing indecent and pseudo-indecent images of children, the possession of hundreds of images classed as ‘extreme pornography’, and breaking telecoms laws by using a variety of X accounts in other people’s names including sending indecent messages.
In response to Le Tocq’s guilty pleas, Deputy de Sausmarez said: “my thoughts remain very much with them and all others affected by his actions, including his family, church community, colleagues and constituents, many of whom will be understandably angry, and some of whose lives will have been turned upside down.
“Details that have emerged of these heinous crimes have shocked me and many others to the core. What compounds that shock is the profound betrayal of the trust that so many had placed in him – not least through his position as an elected representative of the people of Guernsey. It’s that betrayal of people’s trust that I have struggled most with, personally. It’s destabilising and corrosive, because it can undermine our confidence in what we understand to be true more generally.
“What gives me hope, though, is that we are a strong and close community: we shouldn’t underestimate the impact that these crimes will have had on many islanders, but I’m confident people will support those affected with sensitivity.”
Le Tocq stood against Deputy de Sausmarez for the Presidency of Policy and Resources in July, after both were re-elected to the States in June.
Le Tocq lost out in the first round of voting, with Deputy de Sausmarez ultimately winning the support of their political colleagues to take the most senior role in Guernsey politics.
Le Tocq was given a seat on Policy and Resources – continuing his work as Guernsey’s External Relations lead.
He resigned from P&R shortly after he was charged in August – ahead of the committee itself asking States Members to vote on him being removed from his role.
Express understands that Le Tocq has not yet tendered his resignation from the States – but it is likely he will be expelled when he is sentenced if he does not resign before then.
He is due to be sentenced on 26 January.