‘The last two years have been hell’: Georgia Harrison speaks out after Bear found guilty

Georgia Harrison has released a statement following Stephen Bear being found guilty of disclosing private sexual images/films of her and voyeurism. A jury of nine men and three women found Bear guilty on all counts. A video of Georgia and Bear having sex had been recording on Bear’s CCTV camera which had been set up in his garden and the video later appeared on OnlyFans.

Georgia has since spoken out about the impact his actions have had on her over the last two years. Georgia was in the courtroom with her mother when the verdict was read out, and it has been reported she remained calm.

In a statement, she said: “The only way to describe how I am feeling now is relieved. The last two years have been absolute hell and this verdict will allow me to start to put the pain I have suffered in the past and start embracing the future. Bear’s behaviour was completely unacceptable and those who choose to commit such crimes should and will be prosecuted.

“We are living in a time where so much of our lives and our children’s lives are spent online and it is so important that individuals are protected in the virtual world just as they are in reality. Social media has given us the egalitarian belief that we are all publishers but what it hasn’t done is regulate what we should responsibly publish.

“I hope me 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. I have felt ashamed, hurt, violated, even broken at times but today I stand here feeling empowered, grateful and a huge sense of unity with all of those who have reached out to support me throughout this ordeal.”

Georgia thanked Essex Police, her lawyer, the jury and the judge for “ensuring justice was served”.

Stephen Bear also addressed the court, against the advice of his barrister. He said: “My barrister said not to but it’s nothing bad. In my opinion from the beginning it was never a fair trial, what the press were saying about me I was always fighting a losing battle, and it is what it is.”

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• Stephen Bear said the CCTV capturing him and Love Island’s Georgia Harrison was ‘funny’