Disgraced reality star Stephen Bear speaks out after prison release: 'I've lost eveything!'

Stephen Bear realised he had "lost everything " after being released from prison.

The 34-year-old reality star was jailed in March 2023 after he was found guilty of sharing a private video of him having sex with his ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison without consent but was released early last week after serving half of his 21-month sentence and ended up in tears as he came to terms with what he had done.

He told The Daily Mirror: "I've come out of prison and I was very overwhelmed, it was a lot. I've had to adjust again to real life. That was the biggest shock, the biggest shock is, all I remembered is my old life.

"I went to prison and I was frozen in that mindset of my old life.

"You come out and you realise 'Oh, I've lost everything', everything is gone, everything you can imagine is gone.

"It's taken me a couple of days. I came home and the first night, I was crying, when I was in bed, I was crying."

The former 'Celebrity Big Brother' star once had a reported net worth of £1 million but has "embraced" the idea of being without money after moving back home with his parents as he recalled having to be "mentally strong" to survive behind bars.

He said: "I was thinking of all the nice things that I had, it was like 'Wow, man I had it so good!', I cried myself to sleep.

"There was times when it was hard. You've got to be very mentally strong when you're away in those places."

In July, Bear was ordered to pay £207,900 to Harrison, which was the highest-ever sum awarded in an image abuse case.

He was found guilty of voyeurism, and two counts of disclosing private, sexual photographs and films.

Responding to the record damages, Hanna Basha from Payne Hicks Beach law firm said: "This has been a difficult, complicated and emotional case.

"I am pleased that we were able to support Georgia, and I hope her strength in pursuing this highlights to other victims that there is help and support available for them and that the courts take these matters very seriously."

At the time, 'The Only Way is Essex' star Georgia - who is yet to comment publicly on her ex-boyfriend's release from prison - said she had been through "absolute hell".

In a statement released via Essex Police, she said: "Bear's behaviour was completely unacceptable and those who choose to commit such crimes should and will be prosecuted.

"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."