B.C. Man Receives Jail Sentence for Non-Consensual Posting of Intimate Images
A British Columbia provincial court has delivered a significant ruling in a case involving the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, sentencing a 42-year-old man to serve time in prison. Judge Robin McQuillan ruled that the offender, identified only as B.W. due to a publication ban protecting the victim, must serve five months behind bars for posting explicit photos and videos of his ex-girlfriend on the popular adult website Pornhub.
Details of the Offense and Legal Proceedings
According to court documents published on January 9, 2026, the man pleaded guilty to one count of publishing intimate images without consent. The case originated from a volatile relationship between B.W. and the victim, E.H., which lasted from approximately April 2020 to July 2022. During their time together, B.W. recorded several sexual videos, some with consent and others without. Despite the victim explicitly telling him not to share the recordings, he proceeded to upload them online after their separation.
In March 2023, B.W. sent E.H. a link to a Pornhub page containing her photo and a nickname she commonly used. Following this, he sent text messages informing her that intimate images and videos had been posted on the site. The victim promptly contacted police after discovering the content, which included 18 videos and 80 photographs with sexually graphic titles, many clearly showing her face. The materials had been viewed thousands of times before being removed by website administrators in November 2023 at the request of law enforcement.
Judge's Rationale for the Sentence
In her ruling filed in Port Coquitlam, Judge McQuillan described the five-month jail term as "fit and proportionate," emphasizing that it addresses key sentencing principles such as denunciation and deterrence while considering restraint and rehabilitation. The offender was also sentenced to 18 months of probation upon release, with conditions including no contact with the victim and the removal of any online content depicting her within 24 hours.
The judge noted that while B.W. has shown efforts at rehabilitation, including seeking help for substance abuse issues related to crystal meth and alcohol use during the offense, a community-based sentence would be insufficient. "A term of actual imprisonment is necessary," McQuillan stated, rejecting defence counsel's request for a conditional sentence. The Crown had initially sought six to eight months of incarceration along with two years of probation.
Background and Mitigating Factors
Court proceedings revealed that B.W. has a brief criminal record unrelated to the charges and did not breach his bail conditions. He expressed "regret, embarrassment and shame" during sentencing submissions, which the judge found to be sincere. Additionally, B.W. has supportive parents and is a father to several children, though he is not involved in their upbringing. His participation in recovery programs, such as volunteering with the Vancouver Recovery Club, was acknowledged as a positive step toward addressing underlying substance abuse issues that contributed to the volatile nature of the relationship.
This case underscores the serious legal repercussions of non-consensual image sharing in Canada, particularly as digital platforms facilitate widespread dissemination. It serves as a reminder of the importance of consent in intimate matters and the judicial system's role in protecting victims from such violations.
