STEPHEN Bear has been jailed for 21 months after posting a revenge sex tape online featuring former ‘Love Island’ star Georgia Harrison.
The 33-year-old reality star – who won ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ in 2016 – was handed the sentence for publishing the explicit clip of the former couple having sex in his garden in August 2020, which was captured on CCTV, on his OnlyFans page.
Bear was joined by his current girlfriend Jessica Smith as he was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex on Friday (03.03.23).
Judge Christopher Morgan told him: “You intended to maximise the distress and humiliation of Georgia Harrison.
“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.”
He was accused of exploiting the 28-year-old reality star, who requested the personal video be removed from the adult site, to make more money from the tape by putting it on OnlyFans.
The video subsequently went viral, and in her statement, Georgia said it made her feel “physically sick” and said she was trolled online.
She said: “As if the pain of having to know all my friends, young siblings, parents, family, and colleagues past and present were aware of it wasn’t bad enough, I had to deal with him ridiculing me on social media.”
Georgia says the tape has damaged her career, and she hasn’t been able to stay at her home in Essex for the past two years because Bear lives close by.
She said: “Brands no longer choose me because this sort of situation is something they wish to stay away from.”
Georgia went on: “It makes me feel sick that so many people have watched it.
“I also hope this case sets an example to the younger generation, that this sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable and there will be serious consequences for those that chose to act in such a way.”
In December, Bear denied voyeurism and two counts of disclosing private, sexual photographs and films.
But he was found guilty of all charges after more than eight and half hours of deliberation during a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
‘The Only Way is Essex’ star Georgia said afterwards she had been through “absolute hell”.
In a statement released via Essex Police, she said: “Bear’s behaviour was completely unacceptable and those who choose to commit such crimes should and will be prosecuted.
“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.”
Bear had been on bail until January 31.
He will now be on the sex offenders register for the next decade and has been slapped with a restraining order, which means he must not contact George for the next five years.
