US revenge-porn site operator jailed

A US man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for operating a "revenge porn" website and charging victims to remove the images.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris says Kevin Bollaert's sentence shows there are severe consequences for exploiting people online.

The San Diego man was convicted in February of identity theft and extortion in San Diego Superior Court.

Prosecutors say he ran the website ugotposted.com, where people put nude photos of ex-lovers, who then had to pay Bollaert to take down the images.

Prosecutors say victims included teachers, wives and professionals.

The compromising photos cost people jobs, damaged relationships and led to one attempted suicide.

Prosecutors say Bollaert earned about $US30,000 ($A39,600) from people who paid to remove the images.