Georgia Harrison issues heartfelt statement after Stephen Bear is sentenced to prison
Georgia Harrison has spoken out after her ex-boyfriend Stephen Bear was sentenced to 21 months in jail.
Bear received his sentence today (3 March) after posting on OnlyFans a video showing him and Harrison having sex in August 2020.
The then-couple had been filmed on CCTV cameras in Bear's garden in Loughton, Essex, after which Harrison said she did not know she was being filmed.
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Harrison, who is known for appearing on Love Island and The Only Way is Essex, spoke following the sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court, where she said she was 'happy and relieved' that the case had been settled.
"Today's sentence is a vindication of what I've been put through, and sends a clear message that the police and the courts take this matter very seriously," she said.
"I want to let 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 that this puts anyone off committing this sort of crime, and I hope for anyone who has been a victim of it, it gives them some sort of justice.
"Thank you so much for all of your support."
Judge Christopher Morgan, who sentenced Bear today, said he had 'wished to exploit the economic value of the recording' when he shared it online.
“I’m sure that you recognised the enhanced economic value to you by having Georgia Harrison, a well-known reality TV and social media personality, in the video,” the judge said.
“She would have been known and recognised by many people.”
Morgan accused Bear of causing Harrison 'extensive humiliation and embarrassment'.
After Bear received his sentence, the deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS East of England, Hannah von Dadelszen, praised Harrison for the 'bravery and determination' she has shown throughout the case.
“By contrast, Stephen Bear showed a complete lack of remorse by never accepting responsibility for his abusive behaviour, even going so far as to place the blame on Ms Harrison," the prosecutor said.
“Although she lives a public life, Georgia Harrison has the right to privacy. But that was taken away by Bear to make money in the most egregious way [...]
“We want to encourage victims to come forward, safe in the knowledge they will have lifelong anonymity and can have special measures put in place when appearing in court, like giving evidence from behind a screen.”
Topics: News, TV And Film, Georgia Harrison
Emily Brown