A man from Yellowknife has received 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. The offender’s identity is being protected to safeguard the victim’s privacy.
The decision, announced on July 29 by N.W.T. Territorial Court judge Stephanie Whitecloud-Brass, stated that a community-based punishment was not suitable due to the significant breach of trust and vengeful 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 court documents revealed that the man and the victim initially met on a dating app in May 2023 and developed a relationship that included work and romance. Although the victim had consented to recording intimate videos, she made it clear that footage showing her face or identifiable tattoos should never be made public.
Despite these boundaries, the man uploaded two explicit videos to his public account on X platform in July 2024, shortly after the breakup. The court concluded that his actions were motivated by a desire to hurt and embarrass his ex-partner. The videos were online for about 46 days before the victim discovered them, one of which clearly showed her face and the other revealed a distinctive tattoo on her body.
When confronted, the man deleted one video but only removed the second after direct contact from the victim. The court categorized the act, commonly known as “revenge porn,” as a form of intimate partner violence, privacy infringement, and sexual misconduct.
Judge Whitecloud-Brass emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating that posting the videos on a public account with numerous followers had the potential for widespread distribution. Despite it being the man’s first offense, the judge deemed a community-based sentence inadequate, noting the profound emotional impact on the victim.
As part of his probation, the man is restricted from using social media except for personal or business email purposes and is prohibited from contacting or approaching the victim. The victim’s statement highlighted the significant emotional distress caused by the incident, including feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.