A GUERNSEY pastor – who was once the island’s most senior politician – has been jailed for almost a decade for possessing and making thousands of indecent images of children.
Jonathan Le Tocq’s crimes were described in Guernsey’s Royal Court as deeply depraved and “offensive, shocking, and revolting” as he was sentenced to nine years in prison for a catalogue of sex offences.
Le Tocq had a lengthy and respected career in Channel Islands politics, having previously served as Guernsey’s Chief Minister and External Relations Minister.
But his once stellar reputation is in tatters as he begins his lengthy term at Les Nicolles Prison.
Last month, Le Tocq admitted 15 offences including five counts of making indecent or pseudo-indecent images of children – some of which fell into the most severe category.
He also pleaded guilty to distributing a pseudo-indecent image of a child, possessing 218 extreme pornographic images and seven telecommunications charges.
In some instances he used AI platforms to create naked images of women and children he knew, used AI to put the faces of children and women he knew on to adults engaging in pornographic acts – along with his own face superimposed on to the male protagonist in some of the images – and possessed sexualised images of women being tortured.
Crown Advocate Chris Dunford, prosecuting, said there was “no doubt of his high standing in Guernsey”, but that “he abused that trust, particularly by using images of people he knew”.
Some of his victims were present in court as Judge Catherine Fooks delivered the court’s sentence.
“We have found it impossible to find words adequate to reflect the deep depravity of what you have done,” said Judge Fooks.
She added that the presiding Jurats concluded that he had betrayed and violated his victims and described the harm they had experienced as “life-changing and life-long”.
Le Tocq’s nine-year prison sentence is backdated to start on 22 August 2025, the date he was first remanded in custody.
On his release from prison, he will be on an extended sentence licence for two further years. He must follow notification requirements for five years when released from prison.
Speaking after the sentencing, Jenny Murphy, manager of Guernsey’s Victim Support and Witness Service, said: “Today’s sentencing of Jonathan Le Tocq highlights the serious harm caused by image-based abuse. This type of offending can have a lasting and deeply distressing impact on victims, and it is never acceptable.
“Anyone affected by image-based abuse, or any other crime, is entitled to support. Independent and confidential help is available for victims and witnesses, whether the offence was recent or historic, reported or not.
“Victim Support and Witness Service can offer emotional support, practical advice, and guidance through the criminal justice process. No one has to face the impact of this alone.”
Le Tocq finished 9th in the Guernsey election last June and and had been a member of the Island’s Policy and Resources Committee at the time of his arrest.
He had remained a member of the States of Guernsey for several months while in custody – only resigning from his role as Deputy shortly after pleading guilty to his crimes in December.
