Former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Stephen Bear was resentenced to prison on August 6, 2026 for violating a restraining order. The court decision is linked to his previous conviction for releasing an intimate video without the consent of his ex-girlfriend, Georgia Harrison. The court determined that Bear will spend another year and four months behind bars, in addition to receiving a new protective measure with no set deadline.
Remembering the initial revenge porn conviction
In 2023, Stephen Bear was sentenced to 21 months in prison and placed on the sex offender registry. At that time, he was also given a five-year restraining order. The sentence was imposed after a sexual video involving former “The Only Way Is Essex” star Georgia Harrison was shared on her OnlyFans platform, without her knowledge or authorization. This “revenge porn” case generated great repercussion and raised debates about privacy and digital consent.
Recurring violations on digital platforms
Between March and July of the previous year, Stephen Bear openly ignored the court order that prohibited him from posting about Georgia Harrison on social media. He used several platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, to comment on the case. The posts contained accusations and derogatory statements against Ms. Harrison, encouraging other users to also comment about her. The ex-girlfriend presented prints and recordings to the police that proved the continued violations.
New prison sentence and permanent protection order
At Chelmsford Crown Court, Bear was handed a new 16-month prison sentence. The court also imposed a new restraining order, this time of an unlimited nature, which prohibits any contact with Georgia Harrison. The former reality show star was immediately taken into custody after the decision was read, marking another chapter in his series of legal problems arising from his failure to comply with protective measures.
Georgia Harrison’s voice and the importance of reporting
Following Stephen Bear’s re-sentencing, Georgia Harrison, who was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2025 for her activism against gender-based violence, expressed her relief and gratitude. She praised the work of Essex Police, stating that the force treated the case with the seriousness it deserved, without considering it just another “celebrity story”. For Harrison, the police’s attitude demonstrated that crimes such as online harassment are taken seriously and can have real consequences for attackers.
The activist highlighted that many women in her position are often ignored and that Essex Police’s effective response served as an example. She highlighted that, based on the messages she receives daily, she knows how rare this stance is still. Harrison reiterated that if every police force acted the same way, thousands of women would feel safer.
Police action and the fight against online harassment
Detective Swarv Stafin, investigating the restraining order violation, said Stephen Bear’s behavior is not acceptable and should not be normalized. He highlighted the real impacts of harassment, which causes great stress and anxiety, and something no one should have to experience. Stafin also paid tribute to Ms. Harrison’s courage and dignity, encouraging anyone who is experiencing any type of harassment to contact the police, ensuring that cases will be investigated rigorously, regardless of their scale.
