ALLEGED CELEB HACKER– ITS AN ADDICTION

The man accused of hacking dozens of celebrity phones and emails says he was "addicted" to prying into the private lives of the rich and famous ... insisting he was "relieved" when he got caught.

Christopher Chaney spoke with "Action News Jacksonville" last night ... saying, "It started as curiosity and it turned to just being addictive ... seeing the behind-the-scenes of what's going on with the people you see on the big screen."