Stephen Bear, a former reality television star, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for breaching a restraining order by posting degrading comments about his ex-girlfriend, Georgia Harrison, on multiple social media platforms. The sentencing took place on Wednesday at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Bear, 36, was originally given a five-year restraining order in 2023, following his conviction for sharing a private sex tape of Harrison on his OnlyFans page. The restraining order prohibited him from making contact or publicly commenting about Harrison, a former cast member of "The Only Way Is Essex" (Towie). Prosecutors presented evidence, including screenshots and screen recordings supplied by Harrison, to demonstrate that Bear repeatedly violated the terms of the order through posts on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, and YouTube.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) highlighted that Bear also attempted to undermine his convictions by alleging that Harrison and her mother had conspired to pervert the course of justice. Additionally, Bear launched an online petition seeking support for a retrial and tried to access Harrison’s bank statements, actions deemed further breaches related to the restraining order.

During sentencing, Judge Christopher Morgan criticised Bear’s attempts to shift blame onto the victim, describing his explanations as “victim blaming.” The judge imposed an immediate custodial sentence in response to what he described as a sustained “campaign of abuse” against Harrison.

Harrison, 31, expressed gratitude toward Essex Police for their handling of the case. She commended the force for taking her seriously and building a thorough case, remarks that underscored her belief that many women in similar situations do not receive the same level of support or justice. Harrison stated she had received numerous messages from others who have experienced abuse, emphasizing the importance of law enforcement’s response.

Bear is from Walthamstow, east London, and is known for winning "Celebrity Big Brother." This latest conviction follows his release from prison in 2023 for the initial offence involving the non-consensual sharing of intimate material.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about the misuse of social media to harass and intimidate individuals and reinforces the legal consequences of breaching restraining orders aimed at protecting victims of abuse.