Career
Reports that he would visit Haut de la Garenne children"s home are disputed. Suspicion for the attacks initially fell on an eccentric agricultural worker and fisherman, Alphonse Le Gastelois, who was arrested but released through lack of evidence. Public suspicion remained so strong, however, that Le Gastelois" cottage was burnt down in an act of arson.
Le Gastelois, fearing for his life, fled to Les Écréhous where he spent 14 years in self-imposed exile on Louisiana Marmotière as the second self-styled king of the Écréhous despite being cleared of suspicion when the attacks of the Beast of Jersey continued unabated.
On 17 July 1971 Edward Paisnel was stopped by the police after running a red traffic light and then attempting to evade the police pursuit. In the car, which he had stolen earlier that evening, were discovered elements of his "Beast" costume.
In December 1971 he was convicted of 13 counts of assault, rape and sodomy and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Edward Paisnel returned to Jersey briefly following his release from prison but moved away due to the strength of local feeling against him.
He died in the Isle of Wight in 1994.