Disgraced reality star Stephen Bear has been convicted for breaching the restraining order that protected his ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison. The conviction follows a social media campaign in which Bear posted multiple videos and messages targeting Harrison, violating the terms of the order imposed after his 2021 revenge porn conviction.
Background of the Case
Bear was sentenced to 21 months in prison in 2021 for voyeurism and disclosing private sexual photographs and films without consent. He had secretly filmed a sex tape of himself and Harrison and posted it on his adult content account. Upon his release in early 2024, Bear began a series of social media posts accusing Harrison of conspiring against him, claiming his guilty verdict was the result of a hidden plot.
The Breach
According to reports, some of Bear's posts garnered millions of views and featured images of Harrison with slanderous remarks. Harrison, who was pregnant at the time, described feeling upset and traumatised. She chose not to attend court for Bear's latest hearing, stating: "I didn't go to court this week, I didn't stay away because it's too hard. I stayed away because being there would give him the one thing he has always wanted, and the one thing the manosphere machine runs on: attention. A reaction and a spectacle."
Harrison criticised Bear, saying "attention was worth more" to him "than the consequences" of his crime. She expressed a desire to focus on changing "the culture" rather than watching her ex return to prison.
Impact and Campaigning
Harrison has since become an activist, campaigning for legislation to better safeguard women and girls from violence. Her efforts earned her an MBE, making her the first Love Island contestant to receive such recognition. The investigating officer, Detective Constable Swarv Stafin, described Bear's behaviour as "not okay" and said it "should not be normalised or accepted". Stafin commended Harrison for her "courage and dignity" throughout the investigations.
Bear pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order, acknowledging that he knew his actions were wrong. He served only half of his original 21-month sentence before being released.
