For the first time, the woman Jacob Hoggard was convicted of sexually assaulting is revealing her identity

WARNING: This article contains graphic details of sexual assault and may concern those who have experienced sexual assault or know someone who has.

For years, those who accused former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard of sexual assault remained nameless. But now one of them is speaking out in a new documentary.

Jessica Baker, formerly known as JB or “Ottawa Woman,” is now revealing her identity as a survivor of Hoggard's 2016 attack in a Toronto hotel room.

Hoggard was found guilty of sexual assault causing bodily harm to Baker in June 2022 and was later sentenced to five years in prison. He is currently serving this sentence after a failed appeal.

Although her identity was hidden under a publication ban during and after the trial, Baker decided to lift it. In a new CBC documentary. Destroyed idolBaker explains she speaks out, trying to reclaim her story.

“Now I just want people to recognize that I'm a real person with feelings,” Baker said in the documentary.

Hoggard gained fame as a pageant competitor Canadian Idol in 2004 before his band Hedley swept the airwaves across the country and became a favorite of teenage fans. When allegations of misconduct against Hoggard spread online in 2018 during the #MeToo era, the group was abandoned their management team and many radio stations stopped broadcasting their music.

Hoggard was tried in 2022 on charges of sexually assaulting two women, Baker and an anonymous teenager. They only found him guilty of sexually assaulting Baker. Hoggard was also charged with another sexual assault that allegedly took place in Kirkland Lake, Ont., in June 2016. found not guilty in October 2024.

He pleaded not guilty in each case.

In court, Baker testified that Hoggard raped her while she cried and said “no.” At her sentencing hearing in 2022, she told the court the attack changed her forever.

“A part of me died that day and I will never return,” she said. said at the time.

“My life as I knew it was stolen from me and destroyed beyond recognition. The attack robbed me of my worth, my privacy, my body, my confidence and my voice.”

In the documentary, Baker says the process itself was equally traumatic.

“It's that same feeling, amplified in front of a room full of strangers and [Hoggard] and his wife,” she said.

Listening to a recorded phone call between her and Hoggard in the days after the attack was “the most difficult moment of my… entire life,” Baker said. “Worse than the attack, worse than anything else.”

Daphne Gilberta law professor at the University of Ottawa who teaches sexual assault law followed the 2022 case against Hoggard Clough.We sat down. She says it showed how difficult it is for people to testify against those they accuse of assault, especially if they are famous.

“We, as a criminal justice system, rely on complainants to tell their story to bring a rapist to justice,” Gilbert said.

“And this is not a simple question. [a] It's quite painful to be cross-examined by a top-notch lawyer.”

Gilbert says Baker's decision to go public with her name now is extremely “brave.” She says she hopes Baker will tell her The story could reignite calls for changes in how whistleblowers are treated in the criminal justice system.

“The system now needs to be fixed for applicants. And in particular, you know, address some of the shortcomings of cross-examination,” Gilbert said.

She said deposition restrictions that would prevent defense attorneys from asking plaintiffs repetitive questions during cross-examination and reduce the time a plaintiff spends on the witness stand could improve the process for survivors.

Publication bans can protect and harm, lawyer says

Throughout the trial, Baker's identity was protected by a publication ban, a rule that prohibits media outlets from publishing someone's name or any information that might reveal their identity.

Farrah Khan, CEO of Possibility Seeds, a gender equality consultancy that works with survivors of sexual assault, says publication bans can give victims a sense of anonymity.

They prevent family members, employers, acquaintances or others in the applicant's life from learning painful details and are designed to prevent harassment or scrutiny, especially in cases where there is increased media attention or the accused is a high-profile individual.

But they can also harm survivors by limiting their ability to tell their own stories, Hans says, since they cannot share details publicly if there is a publication ban.

“Very often, survivors in this process … are denied a voice, denied the opportunity to share their story in a way that makes them feel safe, to speak openly about their experiences to friends and family,” Khan said.

The most important thing now, she said, is that Baker can take over.I want to share what she went through in a way that makes sense to her.

“Justice is not just about the court system, it is also about telling your story,” Khan said.

---

Support is available to anyone who has experienced sexual violence. This will give you access to crisis lines and local support services. Government of Canada website or Canadian Association to Stop Violence Database. If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety or the safety of others, call 911.