Disgraced TV star Stephen Bear jailed for sex offender register breach after taunting police from Brazil beach

Stephen Bear, a former reality TV star known for his appearances on shows such as Celebrity Big Brother, has been sentenced to 24 weeks in prison for breaching his obligations as a registered sex offender. The court heard that Bear had taunted police by posting videos from a beach in Brazil, claiming they could not catch him. The sentencing took place at Thames Magistrates' Court on 6 August, following his admission of guilt on five counts of failing to comply with the sex offenders register notification requirements. Bear, 36, had been placed on the sex offenders register in 2023 after sharing a private sex tape of his ex-partner, Georgia Harrison, on platforms including OnlyFans and WhatsApp without her consent. His unauthorized trip to Brazil was discovered through a series of social media posts he made from the country. Prosecuting lawyer Maisa Mamman told the court that Bear had uploaded videos showing him on a beach and stating, “the police will not be able to catch” him. These posts were interpreted as a form of boasting about his evasion of authority. Bear had not informed the authorities about his planned trip to Brazil, nor had he notified them upon his return to the UK within the required three-day window. Additionally, he failed to disclose that he had obtained a new passport and two bank cards during his stay abroad. These omissions violated the terms of his registration, which require registered sex offenders to report all foreign travel and changes in personal documents. In his defense, Bear’s legal team argued that he was initially unaware of the specific restrictions imposed on him. They emphasized that he now understands the expectations and is committed to adhering to them moving forward. Deputy district judge Claire Pithie acknowledged this point but warned that Bear must improve his approach to avoid further incidents. She noted that Bear is expecting a child and urged him to take responsibility for his actions. Bear's current incarceration stems from a separate offense, breaching a restraining order that prohibited him from discussing his ex-partner, Georgia Harrison, on social media. In June, he was given a 16-month prison sentence for violating this order, which followed a period of release after serving half of his initial sentence for distributing the private sex tape. Between March 2025 and July 2025, Bear had posted extensively about the incident and Harrison on multiple platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Facebook. During the latest sentencing hearing, Bear appeared in custody and was instructed to pay £85 in costs and a £154 surcharge, with payment due by March 2027. While in court, he and his wife, Miami, who is eight months pregnant, exchanged heart-shaped hand signals. Bear also sent a thumbs-up message to his family. Further details revealed that Bear had encountered difficulties with his NatWest card while in Brazil, prompting him to apply for accounts with Wise and Revolut to manage his finances. He had also lost his passport while still in Brazil and sought assistance from the British consulate to obtain a replacement. The court was informed that Bear returned to the UK in April 2026 following the death of his father. He admitted to failing to notify police about his travel plans and the acquisition of new financial documents.