Deputy Le Tocq, 61, faces a total of eight charges that also include one of possessing ‘extremely pornographic images’. The offences are said to have taken place between 14 June 2023 and 22 July this year – the date on which he was arrested.
Indecent images of children are rated by a national database from category A to C, with A being the most extreme. There were 80 images of category A, 150 B and a minimum of 1,200 category C images.
During a short appearance in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday, Deputy Le Tocq spoke only to confirm his name and address in the Castel. He has entered no pleas.
Crown Advocate Chris Dunford, prosecuting, said that the case would be heard by the Royal Court and he sought a remand in custody on a number of grounds.
Advocate Clare Tee, representing the deputy, did not oppose the remand application.
Deputy Le Tocq was remanded in custody pending committal to the Royal Court, and his next appearance will be on 15 September.
Deputy Le Tocq was first elected to the States in 2000 for two terms. He then returned to the Assembly in 2012, and served two years as chief minister from 2014.
In 2016 he was appointed as the external relations lead for the States, and since then he has been the main face of Guernsey abroad – meeting with leaders from across the world to build relationships and lead negotiations.
He stood for the leadership of the Policy & Resources Committee last month having been re-elected, but finished third of three candidates.
He was then elected unopposed as a member of the committee.
After his arrest last month P&R announced that it had decided he would not participate in any committee business while the investigation was ongoing.
On Friday, it said its thoughts were with anyone affected by the news of the court appearance, and indicated that it would be seeking to remove Deputy Le Tocq from the committee.
‘In the light of these events, it will clearly not be possible for Deputy Le Tocq to carry out any work on, or on behalf, of the committee,’ it said.
