A man from Yellowknife has received a 12-month jail term for sharing explicit videos of his ex-partner on social media without her approval. The 36-year-old was found guilty after a trial for distributing intimate images without consent. The offender’s name is being withheld by CBC to protect the victim’s identity.
In a written ruling on July 29, N.W.T. Territorial Court judge Stephanie Whitecloud-Brass decided that a community-based sentence was inappropriate due to the significant breach of trust and vindictive nature of the offense. The man will also undergo 18 months of probation, complete 60 hours of community service, provide a DNA sample, and attend counseling.
The court heard that the man and the victim met on a dating app in May 2023 and had a relationship that included both work and romance. Despite previous consent to record sexual videos, the victim had made it clear that any content revealing her face or distinct tattoos should never be shared.
Nevertheless, the man uploaded two explicit videos to his public account on X shortly after the victim ended their relationship in July 2024. The court found that his actions were meant to hurt and embarrass his ex-partner following the breakup. The videos, which were online for about 46 days, revealed the victim’s face and a recognizable tattoo.
The judge categorized the act, known as “revenge porn,” as a form of intimate partner violence, privacy violation, and sexual offense. Given the wide potential reach of the videos on his public account with 285 followers, a community-based penalty was deemed insufficient.
The victim expressed in a statement the emotional distress caused by the incident, including feelings of vulnerability and sleeplessness. As part of his probation terms, the man is banned from using social media, except for personal or business email, and is forbidden from contacting the victim.