ATTENTION: This narrative contains information regarding intimate partner violence, which may be distressing for individuals with personal experiences or connections to such situations.
Upon receiving an unexpected text inquiry about her availability for new clients, Larissa Williams found herself perplexed by the unfamiliar context.
After a brief exchange of messages to clarify the situation, Williams was directed to lyla.ch, a commonly frequented website by escorts and sex workers.
Upon accessing the site, Williams was confronted with an explicit photo of herself, an image she had only shared with her former partner, Cory Lester.
Reflecting on the experience, Williams described it as profoundly surreal, acknowledging the deep betrayal by someone she had trusted and loved.
Although her face was obscured in the image, it was accompanied by identifiable details such as her name, residence, phone number, and other personal information.
Subsequently, Lester was found accountable under Nova Scotia’s Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act and was mandated to compensate Williams with $45,000 in damages along with $4,000 in legal fees for the unauthorized posting and promotion of her image for sex work in the summer of 2022.
In the court decision issued on Jan. 13, 2025, Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Joshua Arnold deemed Lester’s actions as retaliatory and ordered a 12-month no-contact restriction to prevent further communication with Williams.
Arnold highlighted Lester’s refusal to take responsibility, cooperate in removing the content from the internet, or offer an apology.
This legal case marked the first documented ruling of its kind in Nova Scotia under the Intimate Images Act.
While the lawsuit provided Williams with some closure, she expressed regret over the missed opportunities to hold Lester accountable through other means before resorting to civil action.
Initially facing criminal charges for disseminating the intimate image, the case was halted by the Crown in April 2023 due to insufficient prospects of conviction.
Williams’s lawyer, Emma Arnold from People’s Advocacy and Transformational Hub, emphasized the challenges in addressing such novel crimes within the criminal justice system.
Williams recounted the turbulent relationship with Lester, including instances of harassment and unwanted contact after their breakup, leading to failed attempts to address the situation through legal avenues.
Williams’s quest for safety and justice culminated in a public legal battle against Lester, aiming to set a precedent and empower others in similar situations to seek recourse.
Struggling with the aftermath of the image’s exposure, Williams grappled with feelings of insecurity, fearing for her and her son’s safety given the public disclosure of their personal details.