The defendants met at Health-on-Line, a subsidiary of AXA

Aden Embling, 32, stole the details before uploading them to a laptop computer, which was then given to his friend Daniel Storr, 33.

Storr promised Aden Embling a 10 per cent cut of his commission for every sale he made from the stolen data, which included names, addresses, dates of birth and phone numbers.

However, no money ever changed hands at Storr failed to sell a single policy to any of the 32 people whose details he acquired from Embling.

The pair had worked together at Bournemouth's Health-on-Line in Holdenhurst Road, a subsidiary of insurance giant AXA. Storr then went to work for company Parkway Financial Solutions in May 2015.

On February 20 2016 between 3pm and 4.47pm, Embling accessed 47 private medical policies and took pictures of 32 using his phone. He saved the photos to a computer, which he then gave to Storr.

Storr then attempted to sell the stolen data on to his company director. The director refused to use it and Storr was sacked.

The defendant then set himself up as an independent insurance sales consultant under the registered company name of Protected Health and Life Ltd. Using the new name, he contacted customers listed on the stolen data and attempted to sell them insurance.

Meanwhile, Embling's bosses at Health-on-Line became suspicious about the records he had accessed. On April 19 2016, Embling was called into an HR meeting, where he admitted stealing the data and passing it on to Storr.

He then returned the laptop containing the stolen data to Health-on-Line and was sacked.

Both defendants were arrested on January 18 2017 after an investigation by the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED).

Storr was eventually convicted of obtaining personal data, while Embling admitted bribery.

The defendants appeared for sentence on Monday.

Edward Elton, prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, said: "Aden Embling stole the insurance records of 32 different Health Online customers by taking pictures of relevant screens and uploading them from an iPhone on to a laptop computer, which he then gave to Daniel Storr."

Storr offered Embling 10 per cent of any commission received from selling a new policy of health insurance, Mr Elton said. However, no sales were made.

Both defendants admitted a "financial motivation", while Judge Jonathan Fuller QC said Embling was "disgruntled" with Health Online and their "commission-based" system of paying employees.

Mr Elton said some of the clients whose details were taken had been buying health insurance for 40 years.

"The quantum figure, the potential value of those contacts, was £3,300 to £49,500 [for Storr]," he said.

"One victim said in her witness statement that she was absolutely horrified her data had been stolen in this way."

Both defendants have moved on in the years since the offence, the court heard. Embling hopes to join the Royal Navy.

Storr, of Coppins Close in Bournemouth, was sentenced to a £1,000 fines. He must also pay £200 costs and a £100 surcharge.

Embling, of Morley Road, Bournemouth, was sentenced to five months in prison suspended for 12 months. He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,200 in costs, as well as a £140 surcharge.

Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt of IFED said: “Even though Storr was ultimately unsuccessful in selling the policies, his and Embling's crimes are not victimless. When people commit insurance fraud, it drives up insurance premiums for all consumers as fraud costs the insurance industry money.

“Storr and Embling were audacious but IFED’s investigation means they have been brought to justice.”

A spokesperson from Health-on-Line said: “We are pleased that the court has recognised the seriousness of these individuals’ actions.

"We take seriously any behaviour that puts into question the integrity of our staff, which is vital to the confidence our customers and colleagues place in our industry and in our business."