Former reality TV star Stephen Bear has been found guilty after sharing a video of him having sex with ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison.
The Celebrity Big Brother winner was captured on CCTV having sex with the Love Island alumni in Bear’s garden on August 2, 2020, Chelmsford Crown Court heard. The jury of nine men and three women found Bear, 32, guilty of disclosing private sexual images/films of Georgia Harrison and also found him guilty of voyeurism.
The prosecution said that the sex at Bear‘s home in Loughton, in Essex, was consensual but that Georgia wasn't aware that they were being recorded. Reality star Georgia attended Chelmsford Crown Court with her mother to hear the verdicts of the jury.
Georgia, 28, told an earlier court hearing that when Bear showed her the footage she told him “never to send” it to anyone and “made it plain how upset she would be if he did”, said Jacqueline Carey KC, prosecuting.
The complainant said she saw Bear send the video to someone on WhatsApp that same day, and was later made aware it was circulating online. Ms Carey said that Bear uploaded the footage “either himself or had it uploaded to OnlyFans and profited financially”.
The Ex on The Beach star said that he deleted the video on August 2, 2020, and denied sending it to others. When asked about footage being uploaded to his OnlyFans page, he said: “I don’t know of any video being uploaded.”
Jurors heard how Bear has earned £40,000 from OnlyFans and more than £2,000 from the video in question.
After hearing the verdict, Georgia released a statement: "The only way to describe how I am feeling now is relieved. The last two years have been absolute hell and this verdict will allow me to start to put the pain I have suffered in the past and start embracing the future.
"Bear’s behaviour was completely unacceptable and those who choose to commit such crimes should and will be prosecuted."
The 28 year old continued: "We are living in a time where so much of our lives and our children’s lives are spent online and it is so important that individuals are protected in the virtual world just as they are in reality. Social media has given us the egalitarian belief that we are all publishers but what it hasn’t done is regulate what we should responsibly publish.
"I hope me taking a stand gives other men and women who have fallen victim to revenge porn the courage to seek justice and most importantly show them that they have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
"I have felt ashamed, hurt, violated, even broken at times but today I stand here feeling empowered, grateful and a huge sense of unity with all of those who have reached out to support me throughout this ordeal.
"I want to take the time to thank the Essex police force (especially Brian Sitch) and also Michelle Roycroft who have been such a huge support to me throughout and have worked tirelessly for two years to get to this point.
"I also want to thank my KC Ms Carey, the jury, the judge Christopher Morgan and all of the victim support team at Chelmsford for ensuring justice was served and helping make my experience as comfortable as possible.
"And of course my friends and family for being by my side. especially my mum who I couldn’t have done this without.”
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