Auditor general 'quit over laptop porn'

Jeremy Colman stood down as auditor general for Wales on Wednesday after an internal investigation into his personal conduct.

Jeremy Colman stood down yesterday from the office of auditor general for Wales following an internal review around matters of personal conduct

The BBC and Western Mail are reporting that pornography had been discovered on his computer.

His departure caused surprise around Cardiff Bay when it was announced suddenly by the Welsh Assembly’s authorities.

The Wales Audit Office, the body he led, would not be drawn on the specific reasons for his resignation, which was forwarded to the Queen and will take effect immediately once accepted.

In a statement, the Wales Audit Office said: “Jeremy Colman stood down yesterday from the office of auditor general for Wales following an internal review around matters of personal conduct.”

In a later statement, the office said: “Matters regarding Jeremy Colman’s personal conduct [have been] referred to the police. We cannot comment any further but are cooperating fully with South Wales Police enquiries.”

Mr Colman was appointed for a five-year term in 2005, extended for a further three years last May.

An interim appointment is likely to be made as finding a permanent replacement will take several months.

A report into the Wales Audit Office last year said a small number of staff grievances alleged bullying and harassment.

The International Peer Review of the office, published in October, criticised a “lack of trust” within the organisation.

It said the auditor general was accessible and willing to speak to any member of staff, but there were “clearly wider issues of trust and confidence in decision-making and the wider senior management team”.