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Stephen Bear Sentenced to 24 Weeks for Register Breach

8/15/2026

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Summary

Stephen Bear Sentenced

Stephen Bear was sentenced on 14 August 2026 to 24 weeks in prison for breaching sex-offender-register travel rules.
He failed to notify police of his Brazil trip on 17 January 2025 and of his return by 27 April 2026.
Judge Claire Pithie ordered £85 costs, a £154 surcharge payable by March 2027, and recorded that Bear is serving a 16-month term for a restraining-order breach while expecting a baby.

Summary

Georgia Harrison Praises

Georgia Harrison, former Love Island star, praised Essex Police for treating her case seriously instead of as a celebrity story.
She said the force built a proper case and acted promptly when the restraining order was breached, a rare response.
Harrison added that if every force acted likewise, thousands of women would feel safer today.
She noted that women in similar situations are often overlooked, underscoring broader victim-protection concerns.

History

Historical Context

The 1997 Protection from Harassment Act, introduced by Lord Mackay, gave courts power to issue civil injunctions and criminal penalties for breach. Amendments such as the 2012 stalking provision broadened its scope. In August 2026, Essex Police used that framework to secure Stephen Bear’s 24-week sentence for violating a restraining order.

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Stephen Bear Sentenced

Stephen Bear was sentenced on 14 August 2026 to 24 weeks in prison for breaching sex-offender-register travel rules.
He failed to notify police of his Brazil trip on 17 January 2025 and of his return by 27 April 2026.
Judge Claire Pithie ordered £85 costs, a £154 surcharge payable by March 2027, and recorded that Bear is serving a 16-month term for a restraining-order breach while expecting a baby.

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