A Nigerian medical doctor based in the UK faces a potential jail term for secretly moonlighting in other jobs while claiming more than £29,000 in sick pay from his own hospital.

Dr Anthony Madu, 45, carried out well-paid locum work at other hospitals around the country while on sick leave from his job with the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in Wales.

NHS bosses had to pay £20,000 to other doctors to cover Madu, meaning the bill for his dishonesty came to around £50,000.

He was convicted of six counts of fraud today and was remanded in custody until he can be sentenced next month.

Madu was given the specialist registrar obstetrics gynaecology post at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, in August 2009.

But he was suspended two months later over allegations about his conduct towards other staff and claims he had falsified his training record, the court heard.

From January 2010, he then submitted sick notes on three different occasions, saying he could not work because of stress.

Madu then made ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ while working for Sandwell General Hospital in Birmingham as well as Scarborough General Hospital and The Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester, the jury heard.

Prosecutor Christian Jowett said: ‘He was legally obliged to tell his employers about his work but he did not do so.

‘He was also legally obliged to tell two locum agencies that he was on extended leave and had been granted sickness leave.

‘But he continued to work and receive payment from both Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and his work in England.

‘This was a very costly business for the NHS and very lucrative for Dr. Madu – that’s why he did it. Madu had been irresponsible as well as dishonest.’

The prosecution said the total cost to the Welsh NHS for covering his absence was £49,000 and Madu received more than £100,000 for working as a locum and £29,000 in sick pay.

He was convicted of failing to declare to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CVUHB) he had taken secondary employment, that he had failed to tell two different agencies, Medacs and JCJ, he had been signed off sick and that he did not declare to either agency he had been suspended.

Remanding Madu in custody at Cardiff Crown Court today, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: ‘It may well be a tragedy has been avoided by the timely actions by the health board.’ Madu will be sentenced on November 28.

•Adapted from a MailOnline report. Photo shows Dr. Anthony Madu.