A FORMER BBC accountant has been jailed after admitting defrauding the broadcaster out of some £80,000.

Oliver Ager controlled programme budgets for Doctor Who and Casualty at the time of his offences and was said to have abused his position with BBC Wales.

On Friday, the 35-year-old of Rock Avenue, Nailsea, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court to be sentenced for 17 charges of fraud and was sent to prison for two years.

Ager worked as a production accountant on Doctor Who in 2007 and 2008, the time when David Tenant played The Doctor.

He then moved on to work in a similar role for hospital drama, Casualty, between 2008 and 2012, during which the programme moved its base from Bristol to Cardiff.

Ager was dismissed from the BBC in 2012 and has reportedly paid back £30,000 of the money from his pension fund. There was no order made for the outstanding sum during the court hearing.

A BBC Wales spokesman said: “When the BBC became aware of the serious allegations it contacted the police and began an internal investigation which led to Oliver Ager’s dismissal in October 2012.

“Oliver Ager has since pleaded guilty to committing fraud and has now been sentenced.

“Since he committed these crimes, the BBC has reviewed its cash processes and ensured that there is additional oversight to prevent a crime like this from happening again.”