Man jailed for nine months over celebrity hacking

A Chicago man has been jailed for nine months for hacking the electronic accounts of 30 celebrities and stealing private information, including nude videos and photos.

Edward Majerczyk was also ordered to pay $5,700 towards counselling services for one undisclosed celebrity victim whose photos were disseminated online.

Majerczyk was accused of orchestrating a phishing scheme which illegally accessed more than 300 email and other online accounts, including those belonging to Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence.

The 29-year-old pleaded guilty in federal court in Los Angeles last year to felony computer hacking.

He signed a plea agreement for his case to be transferred to Chicago, with both sides agreeing that he should receive a nine-month prison term.

Majerczyk's attorney said his client was "suffering from depression".

Majerczyk tells judge he is sorry for the harm he caused, "I will never stop striving to do better"

— Diana Novak Jones (@dhnovak) January 24, 2017