British comedian Jimmy Carr surprised the audience at this week's Q Awards by making a joke about Oscar Pistorius's conviction for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The six-time Paralympic champion was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday for the culpable homicide of the South African model.

The double amputee claimed that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four gunshots through a toilet door at his home in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year.

This week, according to The Mirror, before presenting the Best Act In The World Today award to Kasabian, Carr spoke to the audience about the annoyance of needing the toilet when there is a long queue, and added: "So frustrating. All I'm saying is I can see it from Oscar Pistorius's point of view."

After a number of audience members gasped, Carr said: "That's not the controversial bit. Here it comes... I blame her. If she hadn't been in that disabled toilet none of this would have happened."

After failing to draw a hint of laughter from the crowd, Carr said: "It's the fucking Q Awards, come on!"

Reports have claimed that Pistorius may spend 10 months in prison before serving the rest of his sentence under house arrest.