2 days Ago
Huw Edwards has been spared jail for accessing indecent images of children as young as seven. The former BBC presenter was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London after he pleaded guilty to three counts of "making" indecent images of children. The court heard how he paid up to £1,500 to a paedophile who sent him 41 illegal images between December 2020 and August 2021, seven of which were of the most serious type.
Live updates from court as Huw Edwards is sentenced Image: A mugshot of Huw Edwards has been released by police. Pic: Met Police Of those images, the estimated age of most of the children was between 13 and 15, but one was aged between seven and nine. Sentencing him, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring told Edwards his "reputation is now in tatters" and called his crimes "extremely serious offences".
The disgraced broadcaster held his hands together and leaned forward throughout the hearing as he was handed six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. As part of his sentence, the 63-year-old must attend a sex offender treatment programme and 25 rehabilitation sessions. He is also required to sign the sex offenders' register for seven years and pay £3,128 in costs and a victim surcharge.
Following the sentencing, a BBC spokesperson said: "We are appalled by his crimes. He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him." Edwards offered 'naughty pics' Prosecutor Ian Hope told the court Edwards had been assessed as posing a "medium risk of causing serious harm to children".
The newsreader was sent the illegal images by convicted paedophile Alex Williams over WhatsApp. Image: Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court for his sentencing Williams was charged in relation to his WhatsApp chat with Edwards and was convicted of seven offences following an investigation by South Wales Police - receiving a 12-month suspended sentence. The court heard one WhatsApp exchange in which Williams had offered.
.. Bethany Minelle, arts and entertainment reporter, at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
