Prison officer guilty of indecent behaviour

The case was heard at Guernsey Magistrate's Court

A Guernsey prison officer has been found guilty of "indecent behaviour" after exposing himself to a massage therapist.

Jason Francis Tardif, 53, a prison officer from St Sampson's, was convicted of the summary offence at Guernsey Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

Judge Gary Perry told the court how Tardif had "behaved in an indecent manner" during a massage appointment while off duty on 28 June.

He was found not guilty of an alternative, more serious sexual offence, of "deliberately exposing" his genitals with the aim of "causing distress or alarm".

Earlier the court heard how Tardif had left his victim feeling "very uncomfortable" after exposing his pubic area by moving a towel.

The victim told the court he also made "sexual innuendos", including saying he "wasn't shy".

Judge Gary Perry said Tardif's actions were "deliberate and sexually motivated".

"He unsuccessfully tried to account for his clear sexual actions and innuendo and I wasn't convinced by his explanations at all," said Judge Perry.

"Probably, in his mind, her [the victim's] failure to react was akin to a tacit acceptance."

Victim scared to confront Tardif

The victim previously told the court how she "definitely wanted to leave" during the course of the massage treatment but did not want Tardif to see he was making her "uncomfortable."

Judge Perry told the court that "victims do not always react in a way people believe they would" in a similar situation.

"Like many victims she did not feel confident to confront Tardif out of concern she may make the situation worse," he said.

Tardif had pleaded not guilty to the charges and told the court he believed his victim was telling "a crock of lies".

He was released on bail to be sentenced at a later date.