TWO men have been jailed for their part in "systematic fraud" at an insurance company which saw more than £300,000 of commission defrauded.

Appearing at Swansea Crown Court, Darron Stevens, aged 50, of Penybryn Road, Gorseinon, and Alan Price, aged 60 of Cwmfferws Road, Tycroes, have been given immediate prison sentences after previously admitting charges of conspiracy to defraud during their time at financial consultants Tawe Associates Ltd in Pontardawe.

Natalie Pasco, 32, of Maes y Fedwen, Morriston, Kevin Whyte, 38 of Colwyn Avenue, Winch Wen, and Gemma Thomas, 30 of Station Road in Fforestfach, were also found guilty of the same charge following a trial into the matter at a precious stage.

The court heard in October 2011, Tawe Associates entered into a service agreement with Sussex-based company In Partnership working as their agent.

They would sell life insurance contracts, which would see the company then paid a commission by the likes of Zurich and Clerical Medical.

For each policy, a high commission was payable to the company, and the value of it would vary on the type of cover needed per client.

But over a period of 13 months, Stephens and Price led a scam creating multiple policies in order to receive the commission, but once they were paid, the payments on the insurance policies stopped.

Stephens took out policies of his own, along with some in his family's names, unbeknown to them.

Price, who was not licensed to sell life insurance, was in the office primarily to take part in the fraud, the court heard.

The policies would then be voided, and it then fell onto In Partnership to 'claw back' the funds, a method to recoup the money, the court heard, as they were principal to the agreement.

The court heard in total, the commission amounted to £302,537.

A thorough investigation was carried out by In Partnership and "it was clear" what had been happening after various meetings, the court heard, leading to a full police investigation and an analysis of the policies.

The court head the activity offset genuine transactions which would otherwise have been made.

Judge Peter Haywood said: "What you were doing was placing fraudulent policies.

"You were giving money to people to pay these policies before they stopped.

"It meant you received a significant amount of commission.

"Stephens and Price were the driving force, it was systematic fraud."

Stephens has been sent to prison for 40 months and Price has been sent to prison for 36 months.

Pascoe, Whyte and Thomas were each given a 18-month prison sentences, suspended for 24 months.

They must also each carry out 180 hours unpaid work.