Michael Schumacher’s former bodyguard is being investigated by German police over claims he threatened to release sensitive photos of the Formula One icon. It is reported that Markus Fritsche and two other individuals threatened the Schumacher clan and demanded £12million for the return of 1,500 files detailing the German's medical records.

Fritsche was part of Schumacher's inner circle for around eight years. The 53-year-old had access to extremely sensitive information regarding Schumacher's health and condition.

Corinna Schumacher has been fiercely protective over her husband's privacy ever since he suffered life-altering injuries in a skiing accident in 2013. The 55-year-old has not been seen in public since.

Fritsche is reported to have been relieved from his duties earlier this year following claims about a deterioration in his relationship with the family and changes to Schumacher's care plan. According to the Daily Mail, the bitterness over his exit spurred him to hatch a plan to extort the family.

It is alleged that he stole 1,500 secret files from the Schumachers’ home. The sensitive material is believed to have been uploaded onto four USBs and two hard drives in the days before Fritsche was sacked.

German publication BILD reported back in July that the content included pictures, videos, medication lists and even Schumacher's patient file. The German authorities say that Fritsche subsequently recruited long-term friend and bouncer Yilmaz Tozturkan.

Tozturkan's son, an IT expert called Daniel Lins, is claimed to have been brought on board and he allegedly helped to make contact with the Schumacher family. Some of the files were even sent to Schumacher's loved ones as proof, prosecutors say.

The trio are accused of asking Corinna for £12m to return the files. They threatened to sell it on the dark web where it could then be shared into the public domain.

Tozturkan was reportedly promised a small commission in return for his help. However, Markus, who had been recruited by the Schumachers 18 months before the skiing accident, was arrested by German police at his apartment in Wulfrath on July 4.

Tozturkan and Lins were also detained by police for the alleged blackmail plot. Authorities say they were able to track down the men through "technical measures".

Police charged Tozturkan with extortion and he remains in custody. Lins is accused of aiding and abetting extortion but he is out on bail. It is believed that Fritsche is also out on bail.