A bitter BBC technical operations engineer used the corporation’s account to order nearly £8,000 worth of electronics, which he placed in various offices to 'implicate' the manager who sacked him, a court heard.
Former BBC News team leader Dominic Di Chiera, 50, of Battersea, south London admitted ordering a 3D Blu-ray player, LED televisions, a mobile phone, a camera drive and other electrical items as his contract neared its end.
'When ordering these items the defendant had the electrical goods delivered to his home address,' prosecutor Miss Amanda McCabe told Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court.
'He said he committed the offences on being told that his contract would not be renewed and wanted to implicate a BBC colleague responsible for budgeting, who was responsible for not renewing his contract.
Australian-born Di Chiera pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by false representation, namely fraudulently using a BBC account to make purchase orders totalling £7,773.63p between June 4 and 26.
He was employed at a variety of BBC sites and has also worked for Channel 4 and BSkyB.
'There is an element of breach of trust here and the items were of a high value,' added Miss McCabe.
The court heard Di Chiera was close to a nervous breakdown after hearing his employment was coming to an end and is keen to receive help to ensure he does not repeat this type of behaviour.
He is currently working with police to locate the electrical equipment he says he left at BBC offices.
Di Chiera was bailed until October 1 for a pre-sentence report.
A BBC spokesman confirmed the corporation was aware of the case but declined to comment.