Shona McGarty is "upset and shocked" after being caught up in a revenge porn plot.
Shona McGarty
The 24-year-old 'EastEnders' actress called in the police after discovering that someone was trying to sell intimate pictures of her taken when she was younger and which she believes were stolen.
A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "It's absolutely awful and very upsetting for Shona. She's determined to do whatever's necessary to prevent the circulation of these intimate pictures.
"They were stolen a number of years ago and the thought that they are still being passed around all these years later is obviously a shock for her."
Revenge porn is defined by the law as "distributing without the person's permission and with intent to cause harm or distress" and carries a two-year jail sentence.
The insider added: "It's a good thing that a law has now been introduced to prevent this sort of thing. She does plan to report this to the police and use that to make sure this is the end of the matter."
Shona - who joined the BBC soap in 2008 - plays Queen Vic barmaid Whitney Dean.
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