A senior Guernsey politician facing trial later this year on indecent images charges has resigned from the top political committee.
Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, a former Guernsey Chief Minister, appeared before the Magistrate’s Court last month after being charged with numerous telecommunication and sexual offences and was subsequently remanded in custody.
At the time of his arrest, he was a member of the island’s Policy and Resources Committee but he has now formally tendered his resignation from it.
The politician sent a message to the Bailiff, dated 29 August, explaining that he had heard P&R would be looking to have him removed as a committee member this week.
Deputy Le Tocq wrote that he hoped tendering his resignation would mean that was “unnecessary” and the committee had since asked to withdraw the motion to remove him.
The Bailiff has to accept a politician’s resignation but it is expected that will also happen, paving the way for the States to elect another deputy to the vacant seat on P&R when they meet on Wednesday.
Deputy Le Tocq is next due before the Magistrate’s Court on 15 September, before his case is committed to the Royal Court in October.
Deputy Le Tocq had already been suspended from P&R meetings and committee work since his initial arrest on suspicion of telecommunications offences in July.