Criminal Harassment (Sentencing Cases)

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2019. (Rev. # 96744)

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Offence Wording

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Criminal harassment

264 (1) No person shall, without lawful authority and knowing that another person is harassed or recklessly as to whether the other person is harassed, engage in conduct referred to in subsection (2) [criminal harassment – prohibited conduct] that causes that other person reasonably, in all the circumstances, to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone known to them.

Prohibited conduct

(2) The conduct mentioned in subsection (1) [criminal harassment – offence] consists of

(a) repeatedly following from place to place the other person or anyone known to them;

(b) repeatedly communicating with, either directly or indirectly, the other person or anyone known to them;

(c) besetting or watching the dwelling-house, or place where the other person, or anyone known to them, resides, works, carries on business or happens to be; or

(d) engaging in threatening conduct directed at the other person or any member of their family.

Punishment

(3) Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of

(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; or

(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

[omitted (4) and (5)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 264; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 37; 1993, c. 45, s. 2; 1997, c. 16, s. 4, c. 17, s. 9; 2002, c. 13, s. 10.
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

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Case Digests

Case Name	Prv.	Crt.	Sentence	Summary
2018
R v EC & DP, 2018 CanLII 14036 (NL PC), per Gorman J	NL	PC	4 months CSO	"...on a consistent and continuous basis, EC and DP would stop their vehicle when they saw HY and call her such names as “slut”, “bum” and “thief.” ... what occurred here was a systematic campaign by EC and DP to harass HY at every opportunity. EC’s use of her high beam lights was a part of the harassment." Find summaries of case.
2016
R v Wade, 2016 SKQB 177 (CanLII), per Zuk J	SK	SC	Suspended Sentence	The offender plead guilty to harassment for making persistent emails of her son. She was 61 years old and self employed as an editor. She had a prior related record. Find summaries of case.
2013
R v Wall, 2013 SKQB 239 (CanLII), per Keene J	SK	SC	4 months CSO + 1 yr prob.	The offender was convicted of harassment for making several hundred phone calls to the victim. He banged on the complainant's door for 2 hours. He had an unrelated record for assault causing bodily harm. Judge also imposed 10 year firearm prohibition. Find summaries of case.
2012
R v Kapoor, 2012 ABPC 299 (CanLII), per Fradsham J	AB	PC	9 months imprisonment	Find summaries of case.
R v Hildebrandt, 2012 ONSC 1685 (CanLII), [2012] OJ No 1157, per Blishen J	ON	SC	Suspended Sentence	Find summaries of case.
R v Frank, 2012 NSPC 5 (CanLII), per Derrick J	NS	PC		offender called victim dozens of times--related record for harassment of daughter--also convicted for contact breaches Find summaries of case.
R v May, 2012 ONSC 6797 (CanLII), [2012] OJ No 5673, per Heeney J	ON	SC	discharge	Find summaries of case.
R v Regula, 2012 ABPC 62 (CanLII), per Sully J	AB	PC	Suspended Sentence	criminal harassment, no record, plead guilty, age 21. Find summaries of case.
2011
R v Morton, 2011 ABCA 352 (CanLII), per Paperny JA	AB	CA	18 months imprisonment	harass over 3 years Find summaries of case.
2010
R v Pletz, 2010 SKQB 14 (CanLII), per Malone J	SK	SC	3 months CSO + 3 yr prob.	The offender was convicted of harassment for writing letters to the victim's mother and employer. He also parked his car near the victim's house. Find summaries of case.
R v Jeffries, [2010] OJ No 3108(*no CanLII links)	ON		Suspended Sentence
2009
R v Lauzon, 2009 ONCJ 666 (CanLII), [2009] OJ No 5830, per Brophy J	ON	PC	Suspended Sentence	Find summaries of case.
2007
R v Devereaux, 2007 CanLII 18 (NL PC), [2007] NJ No 4, per Porter J	NL	PC	Suspended Sentence	Find summaries of case.
R v Brake, 2007 CanLII 43483 (NL PC), per Porter J	NL	PC	12 months imprisonment + Pr	The offender was convicted of harassment in relation to his ex-wife. He had repeatedly called her. He had a significant criminal record. Find summaries of case.
2004
R v Marsden, 2004 BCPC 369 (CanLII), [2004] BCJ No 2112, per Kitchen J	BC	PC	discharge	Find summaries of case.
R v Kelly, 2004 CanLII 18861 (NL PC), [2004] NJ No 18 (P.C.), per Porter J	NL	PC	30 days imprisonment	"The accused had parked outside the victims’ house and contacted her by telephone." Find summaries of case.
R v Strickland, 2004 CanLII 34911 (NL PC), [2004] NJ No 368 (P.C.), per Porter J	NL	PC	6 months imprisonment	"The offender had left a message on the victim’s answering machine indicating that: 'if I can't have you, then nobody will.'" Find summaries of case.
2002
R v Basha, 2002 CanLII 23570 (NL PC), per Gorman J	NL	PC	5 months imprisonment + Pr	Find summaries of case.
R v Simms, 2002 CanLII 14769 (NL PC), per Gorman J	NL	PC	5 months imprisonment + Pr	Find summaries of case.
2001
R v Biden, 2001 SKCA 7 (CanLII), per Vancise JA	SK	CA	6 months CSO	The offender was convicted of criminal harassment. He wrote multiple disparaging letters to the victim, her family, friends and employer, attempting to assassinate her character. He also followed the victim at home and work.
1998
R v Bailey, 1998 CanLII 13318 (NL CA), per Cameron JA (2:1)	NL	CA	6 months CSO + Pr	Find summaries of case.
R v Meehan, 1998 CanLII 13314 (NL SC), [1998 NJ No 3], {{{4}}} and 1998 CanLII 18761 (NL SC), per Barry J	NL	SC	9 months CSO plus probation	Find summaries of case.