Former prison officer's sentence appeal dismissed

Tardif (pictured in white) was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison in July

A former prison head of security has lost his appeal against a 10-week prison sentence for sexually assaulting a woman and "indecent behaviour" to a separate woman.

Judge Catherine Fooks dismissed the appeal from 53-year-old Jason Tardif of St Sampson, Guernsey, who was sentenced in July after earlier being found guilty of the offences.

Advocate Alan Merrien argued that because the incidents were not premeditated and Tardif was of previous good character, a community service sentence was more appropriate.

However, that argument was dismissed, and Tardif will now serve his sentence at Les Nicoles, where he previously worked.

In court, Advocate Merrien, defending Tardif, said that the probation report into the case had been completed in Jersey, as Tardif's wife was the head of probation services in Guernsey.

At the original sentencing, Tardif was sentenced to six weeks in prison for the count of sexual assault and given a further four-week prison sentence for indecent behaviour.

He was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman at his home on 14 October 2022, placing his hands on her shoulders and making a sexual comment.

Tardif had also previously been found guilty of "indecent behaviour" after exposing himself to a massage therapist.

'No power imbalances'

In the appeal, Advocate Merrien stressed there were no power imbalances in either case, despite the victim of the indecent behaviour being 30 years Tardif's junior.

He said in the incident of sexual assault, Tardif had only touched the victim once on her shoulders as she left, before making inappropriate comments about her body.

The victim had come to Tardif's house as she had expressed an interest in a job at the prison.

During that visit, Tardif showed her how a full-body search worked, but did not put his hands on her body, Advocate Merrien said.

In response, Crown Advocate Fiona Russell said the judge in the previous trials had taken account of the right things and a custodial sentence was appropriate.

For the next five years, Tardif will be subject to what the Guernsey courts call a notification order; effectively, he will be on the sex offenders register.