Representing Jonathan Le Tocq, Advocate Clare Tee said her client fully accepted responsibility for all of the 15 counts he faced.
She said that in the case of the seven indecent messaging offences, Le Tocq accepted the written and photographic content of messages sent over Instagram and X ‘were not just indecent, but debauched and sordid’.
Le Tocq also accepted that distributing an indecent image of a child was contributing to the ‘pool of indecent images on the internet’. His possession of extreme pornographic material was said to be ‘reprehensible’, although he did not create any of it.
Downloading and creating indecent and pseudo images of children through his own use of AI was ‘utterly abhorrent’, Advocate Tee said.
Le Tocq accepted the aggravating nature of making first generation images and contributing those to the internet.
He accepted that using identities of real people known to him was ‘devious and deplorable’, and using the identities of local people and portraying them as sexual exhibitionists online was cruel.
He accepted turning innocent photographs of children into indecent, sexualised images by editing their faces onto adult pornographic images, and the exploitation of children in his messages was ‘wholly unacceptable’. Inserting his face as a male protagonist alongside the face of the victim was ‘sinister and warped’.
Le Tocq accepted that his offending was long term and had taken place over nine years, and that it had been calculated and deliberate.
‘He accepts the sophistication involved in creating fake online personalities and deepfake imagery and the impact his actions have had on victims,’ said his advocate.
‘Perhaps most of all he accepts the trauma and shame he has put on his wife and children.’
Advocate Tee said that Le Tocq accepted that he had undermined trust and confidence in his roles as a church leader and long-standing politician, and did not seek to downplay this, though she said he had not abused his position as a States deputy.
She said that none of the messages contained threats or intimidation towards victims.
All of the images were found online and were not actually taken by him.
‘In his own mind he did not set out to cause harm to his victims, despite this being the outcome when they found out his activities,’ she said.
The court was told that Le Tocq had been trying to find the answer to his behaviours and commissioned a psychological assessment for himself.
There was little evidence that his upbringing as an adopted child could have lead to his wrongdoing, and that he had not been exposed to physical or emotional neglect or mistreatment. There was no mental health diagnosis, and no diagnosed personality disorder that could explain his offending, said Advocate Tee.
But there was some suggestion in the report of a compulsive pornography addiction.
Le Tocq was said to have been intrigued by other reactions to the stories and images he posted.
‘Describing his sexual fantasies and inappropriate online behaviour was a self-serving strategy used to deal with chronic stress of his job, demands of the faith community and long absences from home,’ said Advocate Tee.
‘He described his behaviour as a form of escapism, a type of maladaptive coping.
‘He continues to deny that he obtained any sexual gratification from his offending and denies that he has any sexual attraction to children.’
Advocate Tee added that Le Tocq felt ‘relieved’ when he was finally arrested, as he did not feel that he was able to stop on his own or tell anyone about his offending due to the feelings of shame and disgust.
The social enquiry report also noted that Le Tocq was very motivated to address his problems and keen to undergo a sex offender treatment programme, so there would be no repeat behaviour.
Le Tocq was said to be at medium risk of reoffending for sexual and online offences.
‘The defendant has had time in prison to reflect on his crime and the impact on others,’ said Advocate Tee.
‘He said he is in a deep state of remorse and regret and realises he has hurt not just the victims, his friends, family and colleagues, but the wider community.’
As a religious man, Le Tocq said he was grateful for being confronted with his sin.
He entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity and had no previous convictions.
Advocate Tee reminded the court that Le Tocq had provided passwords to all accounts, assisting the police in the investigation.
The court was given five character references, from one of his daughters, a retired dentist, an HR professional, a local friend in public service, and a Jersey politician.