A man in Yellowknife has been handed a 12-month jail term for sharing explicit videos of his ex-partner on social media without her consent. The 36-year-old was found guilty of distributing intimate images without permission after a trial.
Territorial Court judge Stephanie Whitecloud-Brass delivered the sentence on July 29, stating that a community-based punishment was not suitable due to the significant breach of trust and retaliatory nature of the offense. In addition to the jail time, the man will undergo 18 months of probation, complete 60 hours of community service, provide a DNA sample, and attend mandatory counseling.
The incident unfolded when the man and the victim initially met on a dating app in May 2023, leading to a professional and romantic relationship. Despite the victim’s clear instructions to never show her face or identifiable tattoos in any videos, the man disregarded her boundaries. Shortly after their breakup in July 2024, he posted two explicit videos on a public platform, seemingly out of spite and to cause harm.
The court described the act as a form of intimate partner violence and a violation of privacy, commonly known as “revenge porn.” The judge emphasized the severity of the crime, highlighting the potential widespread impact due to the videos being shared on an open account with numerous followers.
Despite the defense’s plea for a non-custodial sentence, the judge deemed a community-based punishment insufficient. In a victim impact statement, the woman expressed the emotional distress caused by the incident, citing feelings of vulnerability and anxiety. As part of his probation conditions, the man is prohibited from using social media, except for personal or business email, and is forbidden from contacting the victim.
