Australian National Review – Ex-BBC presenter Huw Edwards gets suspended sentence over child sex abuse footage

Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for viewing indecent images of children.

Edwards was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday after pleading guilty in July to “making” indecent images after being sent 41 illegal images of children via WhatsApp, some of which involved children as young as seven.

The 62-year-old man will have to undergo 25 rehabilitation sessions and be admitted to the sex offender treatment program for 40 days, the judge said.

In his sentencing, District Judge Paul Goldspring said Edwards had previously been of good character and had been “highly regarded by the public to date” because he was “perhaps the most recognised newsreader-journalist”.

“It is no exaggeration to say that your long-established reputation is in tatters,” Goldspring said.

Seven of the multimedia materials were Category A, the most serious type, and contained images primarily of children aged 13 to 15, but two were moving images of a child believed to be between 7 and 9 years old. A further 12 Category B images and 22 Category C images were found on Edwards’ WhatsApp account.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), ‘making’ an offensive image has a broad interpretation and can include opening an attachment in an email containing the material or receiving it via social media, even if it is unsolicited or part of a group communication.

The court heard that Williams sent Edwards the last indecent image of a child in August 2021, a Category A film featuring a young boy who appeared to be between 7 and 9 years old.

The case was opened on Monday by prosecutor Ian Hope, who detailed parts of the WhatsApp exchanges. He told the court: “Alex Williams says the subject is ‘very young’, to which Mr Edwards replies that it ‘could be misleading’ and asks if he has ‘any more’.”

Edwards’ lawyer Philip Evans, KC told the court that his client “cannot recall actually viewing any particular image.”

The court also heard about the “not insignificant sums of money” Edwards had sent to Williams, “which Mr Williams had directly requested on several occasions, as gifts or presents, apparently in return for sending pornographic images to Mr Edwards, which they chatted about.”

“Alex Williams has stated that the money was primarily to support him at university and that it amounted to between £1,000 and £1,500,” Hope added.

Williams was charged in connection with the messages with Edwards and was convicted of seven offences following an investigation by South Wales Police. He was given a 12-month suspended sentence.

Following Edwards’ conviction, Claire Brinton, Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Accessing indecent images of children perpetuates their sexual exploitation, causing deep and long-lasting trauma for these victims.

“The CPS and the Metropolitan Police were able to prove that Edwards received illegal images and videos of children via WhatsApp.

“This prosecution sends a clear signal that the Public Prosecution Service, in collaboration with the police, will work to bring to justice those who seek to exploit children, regardless of where the abuse takes place.”

When Edwards stepped down, he was the UK’s highest-paid broadcaster, with a salary ranging from £475,000 to £479,999.

The company has asked Edwards to repay the £200,000 he received between his arrest and his dismissal.

BBC Director General Tim Davie told the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee last Wednesday that the broadcaster would consider legal action to reclaim the money if Edwards refuses.

“We have made the formal request and I can’t go into too much detail but discussions are ongoing but I have no further news other than the BBC’s position is clear: the money must be repaid and we have made the request,” Davie told the committee.

He said he had not set a deadline for repaying the money, “but we do expect to make progress and get an answer.”

During his forty years with the company, Edwards has covered a number of historic events, including the death and funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and presented the broadcast of the coronation of King Charles III.

PA Media contributed to this report.