Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Tasha Hall & Katherine Heslop

Georgia Harrison opens up in heartbreaking victim statement as ex Stephen Bear put behind bars

Former Love Island star Georgia Harrison has opened up on her horrific ordeal after Stephen Bear leaked a video of the pair having sex in his garden.

The Celebrity Big Brother winner was sentenced today, Friday, March 3 to 21 months after he was found guilty of sharing the footage on OnlyFans without Georgia's consent, having been filmed on CCTV in his garden in 2020.

Bear's sentence was handed down at Chelmsford Crown Court, where his trial had been held back in December, with a jury finding he committed voyeurism and two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.

In a victim impact statement, Georgia, who has waived her right to anonymity, spoke of the mental toll the ordeal had on her, The Mirror reports.

The 28-year-old star admitted "her worst nightmare came true" when the video of herself and Bear was shared with the world.

She said: "Millions of people were watching me and laughing at me and it was completely, utterly out of my control." She explained that when she first saw the leaked video she felt "so sick", and cried hysterically.

Georgia Harrison waived her right to anonymity to help other victims of revenge porn (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

"Even when people weren't talking about it I just couldn't physically be in the room."

As well as the humiliation of her family and friends being aware of the video, Georgia said she also had to deal with Bear "ridiculing" her on social media, and doing impressions of her crying.

The Love Island star added that it also had a huge impact on her career as she had been dropped from contracts, and brands say they didn't want to be associated with her due to the leaked video.

It meant her income had dropped dramatically, with Georgia adding she no longer lived in Essex as her flat is near Bear's.

"He's left me feeling hurt, embarrassed, insignificant and insecure in so many ways. I simply don't have the confidence I used to have," Georgia said of her Bear.

Stephen Bear and his partner Jessica Smith arriving for his sentencing hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates Court (PA)

Following the verdict outside Chelmsford court, she gave a statement in which she said: "I just want to say that I'm happy and relieved that this matter is finally over. This sentence is a vindication of what I've been put through and sends a clear message that the police and courts take this matter very seriously.

"I want all other victims of this crime know that I stand in solidarity with them and I have absolutely no regrets on waiving my anonymity.

"I hope this puts anyone off committing this sort of crime and I hope for anyone else who's been a victim of it, it gives them some sort of justice. Thank you so much for all of your support and that's it."

Georgia was in court in December last year when the jury delivered their verdict, and took to the stand during the trial, explaining she "was so ashamed she couldn't leave the room after the video was shared online."

Georgia (PA)

Bear also took to the stand, where he denied planning to record the footage, sending it on to anyone, uploading it to OnlyFans and asking anyone else to upload it.

During an often tense cross examination, the former Ex on the Beach participant boasted of his sexual prowess and told the court he had "many girlfriends" with high profiles.

After the guilty verdicts, Georgia said she hoped herself taking a stand "gives other men and women who have fallen victim to revenge porn the courage to seek justice and most importantly show them that they have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of."

The star later revealed she was dropped by a number of brands after the video was released, and urged the government to do more to hold social media companies to account, help victims and act quicker.

In an Instagram post after the verdict Georgia vowed to focus on positivity, telling fans she wants to "let go of any negativity and concentrate solely on positive changes to our society to help protect everyone but most importantly the younger generation."

Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.