One is now starting a prison sentence while the other two received community service orders.
Police uncovered the incident, and more sex crimes, on mobile phones while pursuing another investigation.
Former publican and taxi driver, Peter Leigh, 73, Ian Chatting-Tonks, 63, and Elaine Pasquier, 67, admitted ill-treating a dog which had belonged to Chatting-Tonks.
The two men appeared yesterday for sentencing in both the Royal Court and the Magistrate’s Court, where they were joined by Pasquier.
Leigh was sent to prison for a total of two years and 10 weeks, while the other two were ordered to perform community service.
Crown Advocate Chris Dunford told the court how States Vet David Chamberlain had said there were implications when a dog was made to engage in sexual activity with humans and its welfare had been compromised. He had identified signs of stress from the dog in the video.
The dog had been taken in to the care of the GSPCA and no longer belonged to Chatting-Tonks, who had his head in his hands during much of the court proceedings.
The episode was filmed by Leigh using two cameras in July 2018.
The three were arrested in the summer of 2024. There had been nothing to link them to the initial investigation of indecent images of children.
For Leigh, Advocate Peter Ferbrache said his client had ‘liberal and unusual sexual predilections’ but it did not mean that some of things he did were illegal. On the incident in question he had intended to be involved in a threesome. He accepted that the court would not consider his morals acceptable.
For Chatting-Tonks, Advocate Samuel Steel said his client, who had no previous convictions, was ashamed and embarrassed by his actions.
Since his arrest 15 months ago the stress had been inescapable and overwhelming, he said, and he had lost his partner, relationships with his family, and his business as a result.
For Pasquier, Advocate Amy Davies, said her client, who also had no previous convictions, had known that the incident with the dog was being filmed but not that the footage had been retained.
Once she became involved with Leigh there had been a ‘gradual erosion of boundaries’ towards sex. In the cold light of day, she was horrified at her behaviour.
In the Royal Court Judge Catherine Fooks said that Leigh had been involved in shocking and revolting offences and had ‘completely and worryingly disregarded society’s boundaries when it came to sex’, which seemed to have infiltrated almost every aspect of his life.
She jailed him for a total of two years, which included sentencing for two other sex matters to which he had also admitted.
Chatting-Tonks was also preoccupied with sex, she said. He was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service as a direct alternative to four months in prison.
In the Magistrate’s Court Judge Catherine Fooks said that on the first count, she was sentencing for animal cruelty matters and not the underlying offences.
All of the defendants had sought to minimise their participation from what were ‘disgusting’ and ‘grossly offensive’ acts.
Leigh’s prison sentence was extended by two months and two weeks. Chatting-Tonks had another 120 hours of community service added to his sentence.
Pasquier was ordered to perform 170 hours of community service as a direct alternative to six months in prison. All three were disqualified from owing a dog for the next 10 years.
Leigh and Pasquier admitted indecent behaviour and sexual activity in public places including the East Arm at North Beach, the cliff path at Petit Bot, Les Vardes Quarry in St Sampson’s and at La Prevote in St Peter’s, at various dates between 2017 and 2024. The evidence was found on Leigh’s phone.
Leigh also admitted possession of seven extreme pornographic images involving the animal, and three counts of sending indecent messages or images. Chatting-Tonks admitted one similar messaging offence.
The Royal Court proceedings were preceded by a warning from the judge, who warned that the court would be hearing details of a graphic sexual nature which might cause distress.