Deputy suspended for one year without pay

His fellow States members voted 25-5 to approve the recommendations of the investigation panel charged with analysing his social media activity, which attracted complaints from seven members of the public. He had also referred himself in relation to the code of conduct governing deputies’ behaviour.

Deputy Le Tissier apologised repeatedly to his colleagues and the public when he spoke first in the debate, before leaving the States Chamber.

He left the States during the afternoon session and did not speak to reporters. He did not respond to further attempts to contact him later in the day.

Now he cannot return to the Royal Court precincts during a States meeting for the next 12 months.

During his speech, he said he accepted the factual and legal findings of the panel, but claimed that some of them were wrong. He said the matter of his punishment had become a political issue and urged members not to be cowed by ‘external forces’ such as the Guernsey Press or complainant Sarah Griffith, saying there had been a concerted effort to capitalise on his mistakes.

‘I have been stupid. I did break the code of conduct and I will accept whatever punishment is decided upon today but please be under no illusion – this matter has seemingly been used as a political issue rather than as a tool of good governance by some members of this Assembly.’

Media coverage and social media reaction had impacted his and his family’s mental health, he said.

He described his use of anonymous and semi-anonymous Twitter accounts as naive and ‘preternaturally stupid’, rather than malicious.

Debate lasted some two-and-a-half hours but both Deputy Marc Leadbeater, through a guillotine motion, and even the Bailiff Richard McMahon tried to cut it short.

‘Various people are leaping to their feet but frankly, what else is there to say?’ Mr McMahon said. ‘Can we not just conclude this debate quickly and just go to the vote?’