‘Cowering’ Stephen Bear on 24/7 prison watch in new cushy jail after SHOCK threats…amid warning over ‘plastic bag trick’

SHAMED reality TV star Stephen Bear was full of bravado as he taunted cops by posting clips from a beach in Brazil bragging he could not be caught. Bear – previously jailed for ‘revenge porn‘ offences against his ex Georgia Harrison – posed in sunglasses and showed off his tattoos as he shot a video saying “catch me if you can” to police. Stephen Bear was jailed for breaching a restraining order against ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison Credit: PA Bear, pictured with partner Miami, bragged ‘police can’t catch me now’ while in Brazil Credit: Instagram The swaggering celeb sparked outrage as he sipped a can of beer and introduced his 18-year-old partner Miami – who he later wed – to fans in the social media video. But justice caught up with Bear, 36 – and he was last month handed a jail term for breaching sex offender notification rules by failing to tell authorities of last year’s South America trip. Now, we can exclusively reveal that – behind bars – Bear’s cockiness has vanished and he has been moved to a cushy low-security jail after threatening to self-harm. He is now “cowering” in his cell and being monitored around the clock by staff amid fears for his safety. Ex Celebrity Big Brother winner Bear was held at London’s Thameside Prison after being caged, but has now been moved to Category C Rochester jail in Kent. Lags at the jail can do courses in catering, gardening, painting and decorating, construction or fitness. They are also offered vocational training and can apply for community work placements. Each inmate goes onto an induction wing when they arrive and gets help with health and wellbeing, substance issues and “personal development”. Bear, pictured leaving HMP Brixton, previously served half of a 21 month sentence Credit: Getty Bear was at London’s Thameside Prison, but he has now been moved to HMP Rochester in Kent Credit: Alamy But Bear’s time out of his cell is understood to have been restricted as worried officers keep close tabs on him. A source said: “The Stephen Bear you saw on that beach video has gone – and he is now more of a lost little boy. “He is cowering in his cell a lot of the time. “He threatened to harm himself while he was in Thameside and has continued to do so. “Staff have to take self-harm or threats of it seriously and monitor anyone deemed to be a danger to themselves. “But there is a lot of scepticism about his behaviour and a suspicion he might be playing the game. “Self-harming or threatening to do so is a classic trick of prisoners who try to ensure they get soft treatment and don’t leave induction. “I have known cons to put a plastic bag over their head while saying they will self-harm and laughing as they’re doing it. “They know it has to be noted down and acted upon. “And of course, Bear has been in jail before so knows how things operate and there is suspicion about his motives. “He is either playing the game or genuinely troubled – either way the arrogant swagger is gone. “At the moment he isn’t mixing much with other inmates and is frightened of leaving his cell. Bear, pictured leaving Thames Magistrates’ Court with partner Miami, was handed a 24-week jail sentence for breaching sex offender notification rules Credit: PA Bear is on ‘standard’ privileges at Rochester, which is described as being a ‘softer jail’ Credit: PA:Press Association “His behaviour is a world away from what people saw on the outside – and the cocky media personality has vanished. “But his behaviour is likely to have earned him a move to a softer jail from Thameside as he feared going somewhere a lot tougher.” Bear is on a “standard” privileges regime at Rochester, meaning he gets a TV, DVD player and games console plus phone calls, access to gyms and workshops and £20 per week to spend in the canteen. The brazen TV star landed another jail term after posting the video from Brazil bragging that cops could not catch him. In the clip, topless and tattooed Bear filmed himself as he said: “The sun is absolutely baking hot. “I’m in Brazil, I don’t know if you’ve heard “This is my 18-year-old Latina girlfriend. We are just chilling. I’ve got eight music videos I’ve got to shoot while I’m over here.” As he swigged a can of beer, Bear added: “Ahh life’s good. Bear was previously jailed in 2023 for leaking a private sex video of Georgia Harrison Credit: Splash News Bear is being monitored by staff amid fears for his safety at Rochester HMP Credit: Alamy “The police could be after me, but I’m in Brazil they can’t catch me – catch me if you can. “All my conditions are lifted so now I can post on social media, so watch this space.” However Bear, of Walthamstow, East London, broke rules by failing to tell authorities of the trip abroad, to report his return to the UK within three days or declare he had got a new passport and two bank cards. He was jailed for 24 weeks at Thames magistrates’ court, East London after admitting five counts of failing to comply with requirements. The sentence will run concurrently with a 16-month term he got a week earlier for breaching an order that banned him from posting online about his ex, Georgia, 31. Bear was previously jailed for 21 months in 2023 for leaking a private sex video of Georgia, who has since won an MBE for work as a sexual consent campaigner. Bear put private video of himself and Love Island star Georgia on OnlyFans and WhatsApp without her knowledge. After being freed, he posted about Georgia and the case on Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube and Facebook. A Prison Service spokesperson said they could not comment on individuals.