Man jailed for threatening, humiliating ex-girlfriend
CORNER BROOK, N.L. — A Newfoundland judge says the legal system has long failed to recognize the extent of violence faced by women who end relationships, and has opted to jail a man who threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and distributed an intimate video of her.
Judge Wayne Gorman sentenced the 25-year-old man to eight months in jail, saying he needed to “stress deterrence and denunciation in cases involving offences committed by men against their former female partners.”
The woman broke up with the man after two years, according to the provincial court ruling, which was handed down late last month in Corner Brook.
Shortly after their breakup, she found him waiting by her car when she left a hair salon on Oct. 2, 2017. He kicked the door, denting it, told her he was going to kill her and made a throat-cutting gesture.
Four days later, he sent her an electronic message threatening to kill himself and her.
Then, a week later, he sent a video of her having sex with another man to one of her friends.
“I was terrified of where else the video was sent and also what he was saying to people about the video,” the woman said in her victim impact statement.
“I’m concerned about what he is capable of if he would go as far as to send a video out of me. I’m concerned he would say things to my daughter and about what he would expose her to. I feel he is very manipulative. I changed the locks on my door for fear he may come to the house.”
The ruling identified the woman only as “X.” The Canadian Press has decided not to name the man to protect her identity.
The man’s lawyer had argued for a non-custodial sentence of four to six months served in the community, but the judge said a jail term was necessary, saying his actions “were designed to intimidate and humiliate a former partner.”
“Such crimes have been the subject of many studies and consultations, but little has changed,” Gorman said.
The man, who is unemployed, pleaded guilty to the charges against him, and apologized.