Disgraced reality TV personality Stephen Bear has been jailed for 21 months after being found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court of voyeurism and two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.
After a week-long trial, the court’s jury, which consisted of three women and nine men, found him guilty.
Bear previously denied the charges, with judge Christopher Morgan telling him at the sentencing that he “intended to maximise the distress and humiliation of Georgia Harrison”.
The judge added: “That is evidenced by the continued availability of video after Georgia had requested you take it down. By making it available on your OnlyFans site, the video circulated widely and publicly.”
Stephen Bear has got Jimmy Savile energy
— 🐂🐍 (@Hazyarc) March 3, 2023
pic.twitter.com/6NfxfqyJHR
The judge continued that Bear had known the footage was worth more, as it featured Ms Harrison, and decided to “exploit”, with the video landing on porn sites.
Ms Harrison said in a victim-impact statement that the leaked footage was her “worst nightmare” but added the sentencing was a “vindication” for herself.
Georgia Harrison reaction to Stephen Bears prison sentencing: “I’m happy and relieved that this matter is finally over” and “I want to let all other victims of this crime know that I stand in solidarity with them and I have absolutely no regrets of waiving my anonymity” pic.twitter.com/fItUvcbVOx
— lucy marley (@lucymarleey) March 3, 2023
Bear was first arrested in January 2021, before being charged in May 2021.
Ms Harrison, 28, who has appeared on The Only Way Is Essex, Love Island and Olivia Meets Her Match, has waived her right to anonymity.
After a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court in December, Bear was found guilty of voyeurism by a majority verdict. He was also found guilty of two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress by a unanimous verdict.
Jacqueline Carey KC, prosecuting, told an earlier trial at Chelmsford Crown Court that Ms Harrison and Bear had consensual sex at his home in Loughton, Essex, but Ms Harrison did not know they were being recorded.
Who is Stephen Bear?
Bear, 32, is a television personality from Walthamstow, London. Before appearing on reality TV shows, he worked as a roofer.
He first appeared on the E4 reality show Shipwrecked in 2011, at the age of 21. In 2015 and 2016, he appeared on two seasons of MTV’s Ex on the Beach.
He began dating Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattinson after meeting her on Ex on the Beach, as reported by the Mirror.
Bear won the 2016 Celebrity Big Brother, appearing alongside fellow celebrities such as Christopher Biggins and Frankie Grande.
However, he attracted controversy on the show and was met with boos when he left the Big Brother house.
Your winner, @stephen_bear, is out of the House! #CBB pic.twitter.com/xCjRkMCKpQ
— Big Brother UK (@bbuk) August 26, 2016
Bear was dating stylist and influencer Lillie Lexie Gregg at the time, but dumped her on air after getting intimate with fellow housemate Chloe Khan.
Following his Big Brother win, he presented MTV’s Just Tattoo of Us, alongside his girlfriend at the time, Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby.
He has also appeared on Celebs Go Dating, Loose Women, and The Challenge. Bear is currently dating Instagram and OnlyFans model Jessica Smith.
