Gary Whipps has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to 39 counts of fraud by false representation at Chelmsford Crown Court. Having sourced insurance for amusement park and equipment operators, he changed premium details on the original documents of 26 clients and then kept the difference for himself - £46,125.

Detective Constable Surinder Ram, from the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, said: “Insurance brokers like Whipps are meant to help their customers find the right cover for them at the best price. However, Whipps showed little regard for his clients, some of whom thought of him as a friend, and prioritised his own financial gain.

“Not only did Whipps make a substantial amount of money at his clients’ expense, he left some of them without the insurance cover they thought they had paid for. As a broker, he would have been fully aware of the financial and reputational risks he left them open to.

“Whipps has been rightfully punished for his crimes, and we’re now seeking to begin confiscation proceedings to reimburse his victims.”