Stephen Bear: Former TV personality released from prison

Former TV personality Stephen Bear has been released from prison after spending 10-and-a-half months in custody.

Bear, from Loughton, Essex, was sentenced to 21 months last March after sharing a sex tape without the consent of his ex-partner.

A jury found him guilty of voyeurism and disclosing private, sexual photographs and films.

He left HMP Brixton in London having served half of his term in custody.

Bear is still serving a sentence on licence.

During the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court in 2022, the 34-year-old, who won Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, denied all charges.

Jurors at the trial were told how CCTV footage of Bear and ex-partner Georgia Harrison, 29, showing them having sex in his garden in August 2020, was uploaded to OnlyFans.

Bear uploaded the footage “either himself or had it uploaded to OnlyFans and profited financially”, the trial heard.

As well as his jail sentence, Bear was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and was subject to notification requirements for 10 years.

Carrying two black holdall bags, the 34-year-old walked out of prison on Wednesday.

Ms Harrison, who waived her legal right to anonymity, became a campaigner against so-called revenge porn and is appearing on ITV’s Love Island All Stars.

She said her time in the Love Island villa would be a welcome break.

Before entering the show, Ms Harrison said: “I really feel like I’ve missed out on that in the last couple of years because I’ve been fighting for myself and other women, which I will continue to do, but I’m just going to have a little six-week break. I’m having a sabbatical.”

In June the government – with support from Ms Harrison – announced tougher sentences for people who share intimate images online.

When offenders are placed on licence, they face strict conditions including where they can travel and who they can contact.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Prisoners released on licence are kept under the close supervision of the Probation Service for the remainder of their sentence and can be recalled to prison if they breach the strict conditions of their release.”