Reality TV star Stephen Bear jailed after sharing private video of sex with ex Georgia Harrison on OnlyFans
3 March 2023, 13:07 | Updated: 4 March 2023, 03:52
Reality TV star Stephen Bear has been jailed for 21 months for sharing a private video of him having sex with his ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison on OnlyFans.
Celebrity Big Brother winner Bear, 33, was found guilty in December of voyeurism, two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress, after filming the consensual sex with Love Island star Georgia on CCTV.
He then made at least £40,000 on the X-rated site from the clip, which he uploaded without telling his ex.
As he was taken down to the cells after sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, Bear said to judge Christopher Moran: "Have a good evening, enjoy your weekends everyone."
Georgia Harrison statement after Stephen Bear jailed
The judge said Bear "wished to exploit the economic value of the recording" of Bear and Georgia Harrison having sex.
"I'm sure that you recognised the enhanced economic value to you by having Georgia Harrison, a well-known reality TV and social media personality, in the video," the judge added.
"She would have been known and recognised by many people. He said that the defendant caused Harrison "extensive humiliation and embarrassment".
Georgia said after the sentencing that "millions of people were watching me and laughing at me and it was completely, utterly out of my control."
She said in a victim statement read out to the court that she felt "so sick" and cried hysterically when she first saw the video.
"Even when people weren't talking about it I just couldn't physically be in the room," she said.
Georgia said she had lost much of her income and had been dropped from contracts with brands who did not want to be associated with the scandal.
Regarding her ex Bear, she said: "He's left me feeling hurt, embarrassed, insignificant and insecure in so many ways. I simply don't have the confidence I used to have."
She said outside court: "I just want to say that I'm happy and relieved that this matter is finally over. This sentence is a vindication of what I've been put through and sends a clear message that the police and courts take this matter very seriously.
"I want all other victims of this crime know that I stand in solidarity with them and I have absolutely no regrets on waiving my anonymity.
"I hope this puts anyone off committing this sort of crime and I hope for anyone else who's been a victim of it, it gives them some sort of justice. Thank you so much for all of your support and that's it."
Reality TV star Stephen Bear poses for selfies
Bear was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register and will be subject to notification requirements for ten years. He was also made subject to a restraining order not to contact Georgia Harrison for five years.
As he arrived to be sentenced on Friday wearing a black coat and dark sunglasses, he told reporters that it "wasn't a fair trial". He then posed for a selfie with a girl, asked if anyone else would like a selfie and began to sing Lady In Red.
He waved and made peace signs to reporters and photographers as he walked in.
Ms Harrison, who has waived her right to anonymity, said during the trial that she did not know that they were being filmed while they were having sex.
She said she told Bear not to share footage when he showed it to her, but she said that he went on to share it on WhatsApp and online.
Bear had denied all charges, but a jury found him guilty by unanimous verdicts of two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.
The reality TV star, who showed up for the trial each day in a Rolls Royce limousine, was accused of "revenge porn" by Georgia.
The Towie star, who bravely waived her anonymity, also broke down as she told jurors how the tape had ruined her life. Georgia said her and Bear had gone into the garden while drunk to play cards when she had sex with him unaware she was being filmed.
She added: "We had had sex before. His performance was a lot more excited and a lot more dramatic than usual, looking back - more positions, more effort. I had no idea I was on camera.”
Shelagh Fogarty: Stephen Bear is a 'narcissist'
After the sentencing, Hannah von Dadelszen, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS East of England commended Georgia for her bravery and determination.
"By contrast, Stephen Bear showed a complete lack of remorse by never accepting responsibility for his abusive behaviour, even going so far as to place the blame on Ms Harrison," she said.
"Although she lives a public life, Georgia Harrison has the right to privacy. But that was taken away by Bear to make money in the most egregious way.
Georgia Harrison gives a statement outside Chelmsford Crown Court following the trial of Stephen Bear
"Whether or not sex is consensual, it is a crime to share or threaten to share sexual images without consent to cause distress. This is a serious offence which has a lifelong impact on victims. Those like Bear who use devices to share photos or videos or threaten to do so can expect to be prosecuted.
"We want to encourage victims to come forward, safe in the knowledge they will have lifelong anonymity and can have special measures put in place when appearing in court, like giving evidence from behind a screen."
