An ex-police officer who made fortunes selling accident victims’ details to a personal injury firm manager has been ordered to return the money.

Nigel Mungur, a former immediate response officer with Lancashire Police, was ordered this week to pay almost £368,000 following a proceeds of crime hearing at Chester Crown Court.

In October 2017, Mungur was jailed for five years (reduced on appeal to four) after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office, conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, money laundering and unauthorised access to a computer.

An investigation by Lancashire Constabulary’s professional standards, integrity and anti-corruption team found that Mungur accessed more than 20,000 accident logs over seven years, selling the information on to John Helton, who was business development manager at Liverpool firm GT Law.

Members of the public had complained after being contacted by the firm to discuss making a compensation claim, despite not disclosing their personal details to anyone outside the police.

Helton was previously given a two-year suspended sentence and a £115,000 confiscation order after admitting conspiring with Mungur to convert criminal property (money laundering) and commit unauthorised access to a computer.

Mungur’s wife Nicola Mungur, also a former police officer with Lancashire Constabulary, was conditionally discharged after admitting a data protection offence. The Mungurs were dismissed from the force in March 2016 for gross misconduct.

Ben Fletcher, director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau, which assisted the investigation, said: ‘This result is another victory in this shocking case. Mungur used his position as a trusted member of the police to capitalise on other’s misfortune, by selling their information illegally to companies that encouraged fraudulent insurance claims. It is only right that money he used to fund his extravagant lifestyle is recuperated, hitting him exactly where it hurts. Our message is clear, punishment doesn’t stop at a prison sentence, you will pay for your crimes in every possible way.’

GT Law entered administration in October 2015 after reporting that income had dropped sharply.