Tobias Sylvester
Big Brother star, Stephen Bear has repaid £22,305 that he illegally earned by sharing a private sεx tape of himself and fellow reality TV star Georgia Harrison.
The 34-year-old faced nine months in prison if he didn’t pay the amount within three months of the order made by Judge Christopher Morgan in March this year.
The judge issued the order during a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court after Bear was released from prison in January, having served 10-and-a-half months of his 21-month sentence for sharing the video.
Stephen Bear was jailed in March of the previous year after being found guilty of voyeurism and two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed that Bear has now paid the £22,305 confiscation order in full.
Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Debbie Price said, “It is right Stephen Bear has paid the full amount of his confiscation order.
“It’s important criminals understand that, aside from the sentence they receive, we will also go after their bank accounts and assets to prevent them from enjoying the money they made from their crimes.’
Separately, the judge ordered Bear to pay Georgia Harrison £5,000 in compensation, which can be enforced through the magistrates’ court if not paid.
At the Proceeds of Crime Act hearing in March, Harrison revealed that Bear had sold his house from prison to a company called We Buy Any House for well below market value.
The court had previously heard that Bear showed no remorse for his actions and had not paid any compensation for the emotional and financial harm Harrison suffered after he posted the intimate film online.
Harrison testified that she lost at least £30,000 in canceled contracts with fashion brands after the tape was published on Bear’s OnlyFans site.
Essex Police stated that half of the confiscation order money goes to the Home Office, with the remainder split between the CPS, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), and the police.
The police use their portion to bid for equipment that supports future asset recovery, with some funds also going to the Essex Community Foundation.
Since Bear’s trial, Harrison has become an advocate against revenge porn and violence. In October last year, she spoke at Labour’s conference in Liverpool, demanding that abuse cases be prioritized in courts.
She highlighted the two-year delay between reporting the crime and Bear’s conviction and emphasized the negative impact of long legal processes on victims of crimes like rape and domestic abuse.
Following Bear’s conviction, Harrison expressed pride in the changes to the law surrounding revenge porn and noted the significance of Bear’s imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian media personality, Serwaa Amihere has broken her silence for the first time since her sεx tape was leaked online.
