Stephen Bear instructed to reimburse profits from distributing ‘revenge pornography’ video

Former Celebrity Big Brother winner Stephen Bear has been ordered to pay back the £22,305 he made from sharing a private video on his OnlyFans site of him having sex with reality TV star Georgia Harrison. The 34-year-old could face nine months in prison if he does not pay the confiscation order within three months. Bear had previously served 10-and-a-half months of a 21-month sentence for sharing the film. The judge also ordered Bear to pay Harrison £5,000 in compensation, which can be enforced through the magistrates’ court if not satisfied.

During the court hearing, it was revealed that there was a restraint order on the £60,000 proceeds from the sale of Bear’s house. The money from the confiscation order will go to the Treasury, police, and police charities. Harrison, who had been awarded damages and costs in a separate High Court case, had not received any payment from Bear. She expressed her frustration, stating that Bear had sold his house while in prison and showed no remorse for his actions. It was mentioned by Bear that he had a restraining order in place.

Harrison shared how the online sharing of the private video had a detrimental impact on her life, causing her distress and affecting her career prospects. She expressed concern about the video being out there indefinitely and how it could potentially impact her future if she ever decides to have children. Despite her legal victory in the High Court, she had not been able to enforce the judgment due to the costs involved in pursuing Bear. The court proceedings were briefly interrupted by three young men entering the court and making a statement supporting Bear.

Bear’s lawyer argued that there was already a compensation order in effect from the High Court judgment. The judge, however, decided to make a confiscation order for the profits from the video and a compensation order for Harrison. Bear was warned that failure to pay the confiscation order within three months could result in a nine-month prison sentence. Harrison, speaking outside the court, emphasized the importance of perpetrators of such crimes being held accountable and urged for the money to be given back to the victim and the judicial system. She also mentioned her intention to donate some of the compensation to charities that supported her during the ordeal.

The case highlights the complexities and consequences of sharing private videos without consent, underscoring the need for legal consequences and restitution for the victims. It also sheds light on the financial implications and challenges faced by victims seeking justice through the legal system. Harrison’s experience serves as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of such actions and the importance of supporting victims of image-based abuse. The court’s decision to order Bear to pay back the profits and compensate Harrison demonstrates a step towards accountability and justice in cases of online exploitation. It also emphasizes the responsibility of those who commit such offenses to face the legal and financial repercussions of their actions.