3 days Ago By [email protected] (Dan Warburton)
Huw Edwards sent up to £1,500 to a convicted paedophile who shared sickening indecent images of children as young as seven with him. And the depraved 63-year-old was also asked by Alex Williams to buy gifts in exchange for “all the hot videos”. They included cash for Nike trainers and Christmas .
After receiving one image of a boy as young as 13, Edwards replied: “Amazing.” But the former News at Ten anchor yesterday avoided jail as he was handed a six-month sentence suspended for two years. One of Britain’s best-known newsreaders, his reputation and career now lie in ruins after he had pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.
Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring placed dad-of-five Edwards on the sex offender register for seven years. He was also ordered to attend a sex offender treatment scheme. Edwards remained motionless at Westminster magistrates court as Mr Goldspring outlined the horrific impact child abuse images have on their victims.
Edwards was sent 377 sexual images by Williams, of which 41 were indecent images of children. The magistrate said: “A child never does nor can consent. The continued distribution of child abuse images perpetuates a cycle of abuse to fulfil the demand for the sexualisation of children.
“Victims may be aware their images may be still on the internet, and this can lead to feelings of ongoing traumatisation.” Addressing Edwards, who fronted coverage of the Queen’s funeral in 2022 on the BBC , he added: “You are of previous good character, having enjoyed a very successful career in the media. “You were highly regarded by the public, perhaps the UK’s most recognised journalist.
It is not an exaggeration to say your long-earned reputation is in tatters.” Edwards issued a grovelling apology to his family, those he betrayed and the victims of abuse. The court was told he had been an inpatient at the Nightingale Hospital mental health clinic in London since his July guilty pleas.
Philip Evans KC, defending, said: “Mr Edwards wishes the court to know how profoundly sorry he is. “He recognises the repugnant nature of such indecent images and the hurt that is done to those who appear in them. “He has betrayed the priceless trust and faith of so many people.
He has hurt and damaged his family and his loved ones.” Mr Evans claimed Edwards has “no memory of viewing any particular images” because of his mental health. He had a “neurocognitive disorder” – worsened by alcohol.
The barrister added: “He did not store any of these images on any device. He didn’t use them for any personal gratification.” A psychosexual therapist report said: “The feelings of being desirable and unseen alongside Mr Edwards’ unresolved sexual orientation created a perfect storm where he engaged in sexual infidelities and became vulnerable to people blackmailing him.
” Edwards earned £479,999 a year with the BBC. Bosses knew in November last year he had been arrested but continued paying him until April when he quit due to ill health after a 40-year career. Yesterday’s hearing was told he felt like an “outsider” at the corporation because he did not attend Oxford.
The BBC said it was “appalled” by his sick crimes and added: “He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him.” Making indecent images of children includes opening and downloading pictures but is not as serious a charge as producing such images, which involves the filming. Mr Evans argued Edwards had not made images in the “traditional sense” and did not pay Williams for the “purposes of receiving indecent images”.
Mr Goldspring agreed the star did not pose a risk to the public. Williams sent the pictures between December 2020 and August 2021 to Edwards who during that time, in April 2021, fronted the coverage of Prince Philip ’s funeral. He asked him if he wanted sexual images of a person whose “age could be discerned as being between 14 and 16”.
The newsreader replied: “Yes.” Edwards warned Williams not to “send anything underage” from the array of pictures he found on the dark web. But on August 11, 2021, the paedophile contacted him and said he had some “naughty” images.
Edwards told him to “go on”, and Williams replied “young” – before the newsreader said “go on” again. During the time of his offending Edwards “described a deterioration in the relationship” with wife Vicky Flind. A report stated: “She was experiencing high levels of stress as her mother was nearing end of life and the couple became increasingly distant from one another.
” The Crown Prosecution Service said after Edwards was sentenced: “This sends a clear message that we will work to bring to justice those who seek to exploit children.” The NSPCC added: “Online child sexual abuse is at record levels and offenders like Edwards who fuel this should be in no doubt about the impact it has on victims.” Williams, 25, of Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, got a 12-month suspended jail term for possessing and distributing indecent images.
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