Shane's sexy snaps get stolen

Photos of EastEnders star Shane Richie's topless girlfriend are being used by thieves in a blackmail attempt.

11:05 18 March 2005

Photos of EastEnders star Shane Richie's topless girlfriend are being used by thieves in a blackmail attempt.

The actor voted the best at the British Soap Awards last year is being taunted by crooks who stole girlfriend Christie Goddard's mobile phone in a recent carjacking attempt.

Twenty-six-year-old Christie had to fend off the criminals as they attempted to steal her Freelander car while she was filling up with petrol near the pair's Buckinghamshire home.

They did not manage start the vehicle because Christie had taken the keys out, but they did snatch her handbag and phone after a scuffle.

And once they realised that her phone had saucy snaps of her with her top off and Shane semi-nude they began bombarding the actor who plays Alfie Moon with the snaps, saying they could "get into the wrong hands".

"It is bad enough that Christie was robbed like this and she was very shaken," one of Shane's friends told the Sun newspaper.

"But for them to have found the pictures is very distressing. He is determined not to bow to pressure from these parasites."

This incident is said to have left Shane very upset as he prepares to take part in a celebrity football match for victims of the tsunami in south-east Asia on March 27th.

The 40-year-old will appear in a celebrity side including Bryan McFadden and Harvey from So Solid Crew, who will come up against a team made up of Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen among other Liverpool all-stars.