Reality TV contestant Stephen Bear taunted police by “bragging” he was on a beach in Brazil while he breached his requirements as a sex offender, a court has heard.

He was not on the run during the trip last year, but under the rules of his registration requirements he was ordered to tell authorities about foreign travel.

Bear, 36, admitted five counts of failing to comply with the register notification requirements at Thames Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison.

He is already in prison having been jailed on Thursday after admitting breaching a restraining order that banned him from posting online about his ex-partner Georgia Harrison.

Bear, of Walthamstow, east London, had been placed on the sex offenders register in 2023 for sharing a private sex tape of Harrison.

His unauthorised trip was discovered when he made a series of social media posts from Brazil.

Prosecutor Maisa Mamman told the court he had posted videos on social media showing him on a beach and saying “the police will not be able to catch” him.

She added: “He posted on social media videos essentially bragging he was in Brazil.”

Bear had not informed police about the trip and on his return, he failed to tell officers within three days of his return to the UK, the court heard.

He also did not notify them that he had acquired a new passport and two bank cards during his trip.

In his defence, the court heard Bear was not aware of the restrictions at the time and is now clear about what the requirements demand.

Deputy district judge Claire Pithie told him the sentence takes immediate effect, adding: “You need to work on your strategies. Otherwise you will keep ending up finding yourself in difficult situations.

“You have a baby on the way.”

Bear was jailed for 21 months in 2023 for sharing the private video of himself and Harrison on OnlyFans and WhatsApp without her knowledge.

After serving half his original sentence, Bear was released from prison, but between 1 March 2025 and 21 July 2025 began posting on Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube and Facebook about the case and Harrison.

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external.