Disgraced TV personality Stephen Bear jailed for 21 months

Disgraced TOWIE personality Stephen Bear has been given a 21 month jail sentence.

Bear was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register and will be subject to notification requirements for 10 years, and he was also made subject to a restraining order not to contact Georgia Harrison for five years.

The 33 year-old, who won Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, and 28 year-old Georgia Harrison were captured having sex on CCTV cameras in Bear's garden in August 2020.

Ms Harrison, who has appeared on The Only Way Is Essex, Love Island and Olivia Meets Her Match, has waived her right to anonymity.

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.

Ms Harrison said 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”, the prosecutor said.

The complainant said that she saw Bear send the footage to someone on WhatsApp later that day, and later that year she was made aware that it was circulating online.

Ms Carey said that Bear uploaded the footage “either himself or had it uploaded to OnlyFans and profited financially”.

Bear, who has also appeared on Ex On The Beach, denied all charges and claimed at trial that he deleted the footage that day and had shared it with no-one other than Ms Harrison.

But he was found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court of voyeurism and of two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.

Speaking outside court Georgia Harrison said:

"...they have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of."

After Bear was found guilty last year, Ms Harrison said: “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.”

Bear attended his trial in a hired chauffeur-driven white Rolls Royce wearing a black fur jacket and sunglasses and was accompanied by his girlfriend, Jessica Smith.

In January, while awaiting sentencing, Bear shared a video on his Twitter account of him proposing to Ms Smith at a restaurant and her saying yes.

In the footage, filmed by another person, Bear shouted to other diners from a balcony table that he had a “special announcement” before getting on one knee and asking Ms Smith to marry him.

During his trial, Bear’s Twitter account posted a “50% off” deal for his adult entertainment website alongside a photo of him arriving at court accompanied by Ms Smith.

Jane Gardner, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and chair of the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board, said:

“Georgia has been extremely brave throughout this investigation and has trusted our Essex Police officers, who have done great work in handling the case. I cannot pretend to know how hard this must have been for her, but I know that we all care deeply about getting justice for her.

“This had been one of the highest profile revenge porn convictions in the UK and I hope cases like this will not only deter people from committing this crime, but also help people come forward and report these offences.

“I want to be absolutely clear, in Essex, we will not tolerate male violence, abuse and misogyny against women and girls in any form.

Bear has been on bail since his conviction in December.

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