Michael Schumacher’s ex-bodyguard given two-year suspended prison sentence for involvement in blackmail plot

A man who was part of a blackmailing scheme involving F1 star Michael Schumacher has received his sentencing.

Markus Fritsche, 53, along with Yilmaz Tozturkan, also 53, and his son, Daniel Lins, were named as the individuals who hatched a plan to blackmail Schumacher's family for an eye-watering £12 million.

The trio reportedly obtained as many as 1,500 photographs and 200 videos of the former Formula 1 driver, who lives a very private life following a serious skiing accident in 2013 that left Schumacher fighting for his life.

Fritsche, Tozturkan, and Lins have recently been on trial for the blackmailing plot, and received their respective sentences today (February 12).

Lins, 30, received a six-month suspended sentence, while Tozturkan — who is already in jail for an unrelated crime — will serve an additional three years in prison, says The Guardian.

Like Lins, Fritsche also managed to swerve and time behind bars and was handed a a two-year suspended sentence.

Michael Schumacher had a serious accident during a skiing trip in 2013 (Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

While Tozturkan denied blackmailing the Schumacher family and said he was simply offering them a 'business deal', he admitted remorse for his actions.

"I'm very sorry and ashamed for what I have done," he said before the verdict was given. "It was a very disgusting thing. I take full responsibility."

Apparently the Schumacher family plan on appealing the 'lenient' sentencing.

Thilo Damm, the Schumacher family lawyer, said: "We do not agree with everything the court said. You can rest assured that we will exhaust all legal possibilities at our disposal.

"We don’t know where the missing hard drive is [...] so there is the possibility of another threat through the back door."