Stephen Bear Hit With £22k Confiscation Order Over Voyeurism Scandal
Stephen Bear has been slapped with a £22,305 Confiscation Order at Chelmsford Crown Court. The move aims to claw back the illegal profits he made from publishing explicit videos on a subscription site without the consent of those involved.
£5,000 to Victim Georgia Harrison
The court also ordered £5,000 of that sum to be paid as compensation to victim Georgia Harrison, taken directly from the confiscated funds. This comes after Bear was found guilty of voyeurism and disclosing private sexual films back in December 2022.
He was sentenced to 21 months behind bars on 3 March 2023 for these offences.
CPS Cracks Down on Criminal Cash
Specialist Proceeds of Crime lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) worked hard to seize Bear’s ill-gotten gains. Despite his attempts to hide assets, the court found Bear personally pocketed £22,305.
Under the order, Bear has three months to pay up. If he misses the deadline, an extra nine months of penalties will kick in against his assets until the debt is cleared.
CPS Chief Praises Team, Vows to Keep Fighting Crime Profiteers
Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “Bear showed no remorse throughout. Our Proceeds of Crime team and Essex Police financial investigators worked tirelessly to prove his financial gains. We remain committed to ensuring offenders do not profit from their crimes.”
Over the last five years, the CPS has recovered over £480 million through Confiscation Orders, with £105 million returned directly to victims as compensation.
This case highlights the CPS’s drive to deliver justice and safeguard victims, ensuring criminals like Bear face the full consequences—both in jail and in their wallets.
