District Judge Paul Goldspring sentenced Huw Edwards to a six-month prison term suspended for two years in his child porn case.
The disgraced former BBC News presenter will be listed on a sex offenders register for seven years, after he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, according to the BBC. In July, Edwards admitted to receiving 41 images on WhatsApp – including some showing a victim aged between seven and nine. During his sentencing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court Edward was told he was obligated to attend a sex offender treatment program, according to BBC.
Edwards was sent images by a 25-year-old convicted sex offender Alex Williams. When the former BBC representative was asked in court if he wanted more images of young people, he replied, “Go on,” and when asked another time, he said, “Amazing.”
Judge Goldspring accepted Edwards’ submission that he did not make or create the images of children, but did open them on Whatsapp. Goldspring said there was no evidence that Edwards did anything further with the images, and that he did not directly pay for the images.
The court heard that Williams would request gifts and presents after sending the images to Edwards, and that Edwards had sent money in the range of £1,000 to £1,500.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Huw Edwards leaving Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 16, 2024 in London, England. On July 31, 2024, Veteran News Reader Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent pictures of children between 2020 and 2022, 37 images were shared on WhatsApp. He was arrested in November 2023. Edwards was the BBC’s Ten O’clock News anchor and was chosen to announce the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II to the nation. (Photo by Neil Mockford/Getty Images)
Goldspring felt Edwards’ remorse was genuine, and said Edwards did not pose a risk to the public or children. He said the evidence in this case demonstrated that he could be rehabilitated, according to BBC.
Edwards will not go to jail unless he commits another offence within the sentence period.
Edwards was found to have seven category A images, which are the most serious classification. Such images show serious abuse including penetrative sexual activity, according to BBC.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards leaves court after receiving a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years for accessing indecent images of children at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 16, 2024 in London, England. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
He also had 12 category B pictures, which depict non-penetrative sexual activity, and 22 photographs in category C, which relate to other indecent images, according to BBC.
Goldspring scolded Edwards in court, saying his “long-earned reputation” was now “in tatters.” (RELATED: Department Of Homeland Security Takes Disney Cruise Line Employee Into Custody On Child Pornography Charges)
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from BBC spoke out to say the corporation was “appalled” by Edwards’ crimes.
“He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him” they said, according to BBC.
