David Winslow Sparks, the man who pleaded guilty to breaching a publication ban related to the victim in the Lyle Howe sexual assault case, will learn his sentence on March 30.

The 62-year-old Dartmouth man was charged in September after he posted the name of the sexual assault victim on social media.

He appeared in court Tuesday, where Crown attorney Janine Kidd said a sentence of seven to 15 days in jail would be appropriate for this offence.

But, she said, because of Sparks' age and lack of a criminal record, what she asked for instead was a two month conditional sentence, consisting of one month of house arrest, followed by one month under a curfew, followed by a period of probation.

Judge Alanna Murphy will review the case and deliver her decision on March 30.

The identity of the victim was protected by a publication ban after a sexual assault charge was filed against Howe, a prominent defence lawyer.

The Crown read a victim impact statement from the woman named in Facebook post.

The victim says when she got the call that her name was posted online she was "blindsided and completely devastated."

"My absolute worst fear had come true."

She says she hopes others will not be deterred from reporting sexual assault.

Sparks has no prior record. He told the court the judge in the Howe case said the victim's name, and he assumed the publication ban was lifted when the case ended.

The Crown says this case is unique in her case-law research. All other cases she found involved members of the media. Kidd says there is no precedent for a case like this in Nova Scotia.

Sparks's defence attorney Laura McCarthy, who is also Howe's wife, says her client made an admission of remorse, and misunderstood that a publication ban stays in effect after a trial is over.

McCarthy is asking for probation, discharge, community service and no fine.

She says the community would be best served if Sparks did community service. McCarthy argues custody is not appropriate. She said potentially a fine could be issued but Sparks's finances are tight and community service hours could be done in lieu.

Howe was sentenced to three years in prison in July and is appealing that conviction. That appeal is also expected to begin this month.

Check out a replay of the CBC's Shaina Luck's liveblog.