Former Jersey senator Stuart Syvret jailed for contempt

Stuart Syvret, a former Jersey senator and health minister, represented himself in court

Former Jersey senator Stuart Syvret has been sentenced to 10 weeks in prison for contempt of court.

Mr Syvret, 45, left the island between November and May and failed to make court appearances, the island's magistrates' court heard.

He was also found guilty of two charges of breaking data protection laws.

The court heard he published on his blog a confidential police report into suspicious deaths at the island's General Hospital.

The report contained the name and details of a suspect.

After a thorough police investigation officers found no evidence that any crime had been committed, however.

Mr Syvret published the report on his blog believing there was a cover up and that it was in the public interest, the court heard.

He was fined a total of £4,200 and ordered to pay £10,000 in prosecution costs for the data protection breach.

Magistrate Bridget Shaw offered Mr Syvret the chance to be assessed for community service but he declined.

She told him he "only had himself to blame for the outcome".

Supporters in the court applauded the former politician as he was led out to the prison van.

He has said he will appeal the verdict.