A British Columbia judge has spared a man jail time after he admitted to urinating on his sleeping girlfriend while recording the assault, despite prosecutors seeking up to nine months behind bars.

Martin Joseph Couture pleaded guilty to one count of assault against his former intimate partner. Judge Tina-Marie Bradford instead imposed a 12-month suspended sentence, according to a sentencing decision published this week.

The 2025 assault occurred while the woman was asleep.

“Mr. Couture urinated on her, saturating her clothing and body,” Bradford wrote. When the woman woke up drenched in urine, she noticed cameras positioned around her.

Couture initially told her the incident was “piss play” and claimed she had asked for it. The recording later confirmed she had been asleep.

The victim told the court the assault left her experiencing anger, sadness, shame and a “profound sense of betrayal.”

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The Crown sought six to nine months in jail followed by probation, arguing the sleeping victim was particularly vulnerable and Couture's initial response blamed her for what happened.

Prosecutors described the assault as “degrading and humiliating” and warned that allowing Couture to avoid jail would trivialize the offence and fail to reflect his moral blameworthiness.

Bradford agreed the nature of the assault was an aggravating factor but found there were “significant” mitigating circumstances.

Couture had no previous criminal record, pleaded guilty and was assessed as posing a low risk of reoffending. The court also heard he had maintained sobriety, complied with court conditions, expressed remorse and participated in community activities, including food programs and teaching music to children.

The defence also pointed to the couple's previous consensual sexual activities involving recording and urination as context, while characterizing the non-consensual assault as an impulsive act committed while Couture struggled with mental-health and substance-use issues.

Bradford ultimately concluded incarceration was unnecessary because Couture's “rehabilitation has largely been achieved.”

His suspended sentence includes 12 months of probation, no contact with the victim, abstinence from drugs and alcohol, counselling as directed and 40 hours of community service.

He must also apologize to his victim “to the satisfaction” of a probation officer.

The B.C. Prosecution Service told CTV News it is “carefully reviewing” Bradford's decision when asked whether prosecutors intend to appeal.