Huw Edwards given six-month suspended sentence for making indecent images of children

Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, after admitting accessing indecent images of children.

As part of his sentence, Edwards will have to attend 25 rehabilitation sessions and be placed on the sex offender treatment programme for 40 days.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how Edwards paid convicted paedophile Alex Williams up to £1,500, with prosecutor Ian Hope saying: “It is clear from the face of the WhatsApp chat recovered that a deal of the chat between Alex Williams and Mr Edwards was sexual in nature.

“It is also clear that Mr Edwards was paying not insignificant sums of money – low hundreds of pounds on an occasional basis – to Alex Williams which Mr Williams directly asked for on several occasions, as gifts or presents, apparently off the back of sending pornographic images to Mr Edwards, about which images they chatted."

At one point, Hope said, Williams had asked if Edwards wanted sexual images of a person whose 'age could be discerned as being between 14 and 16'.

Edwards replied: "Yes xxx.”

Defence barrister Philip Evans KC said Edwards was 'truly sorry' for how he has 'damaged his family and his loved ones', and for committing the offences.

He told the court: “He knows he has hurt and he has damaged his family and his loved ones around him.

“For all of this, he is truly sorry and he is truly sorry he has committed these offences.”

Huw Edwards arriving at court today (PA)

Back in July, it emerged that the broadcaster had been charged with making indecent images of children, facing three charges over alleged activity between December 2020 and April 2022.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed he had been charged on 26 June after being arrested in November last year.

A spokesperson issued a statement to Tyla at the time, saying: "Huw Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Met Police investigation.

"The offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat.

"Edwards was arrested on 8 November 2023. He was charged on Wednesday, 26 June following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service.

"He has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 31 July.

"Media and the public are strongly reminded that this is an active case.

"Nothing should be published, including on social media, which could prejudice future court proceedings."

Huw Edwards was charged in June after being arrested last November (PA)

When he appeared in court on 31 July, Edwards pleaded guilty to charges of having indecent images of children - with seven of the 41 being of the most serious type.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, ‘making’ an indecent image is an umbrella term used to describe anything from opening an attachment containing an image to accessing images via pornographic websites that use a pop-up function.

It explains on its website that the ‘breadth’ or what constitutes ‘making’ means it will often be the appropriate charge, rather than ‘possession’.

"When a device is seized, it may be the case that an image is stored in such a way that it is not possible to say that the suspect possessed it, because it is not accessible to them,” the CPS adds.

“Even if it is not accessible, however, the evidence may show that they had knowingly ‘made’ the image.”

Edwards pleaded guilty earlier this year (PA)

The court previously heard that Edwards did not create the images himself, having opened the pictures after they were sent to him through WhatsApp.

The newsreader has previously been at the forefront of major royal and political events at the BBC, but resigned from his role in April after four decades with the corporation.

At the time, the BBC issued a statement on Edwards' resignation, saying he had stepped down following 'medical advice'.

"Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC," the statement said.

"After 40 years of service, Huw has explained that his decision was made on the basis of medical advice from his doctors.

"The BBC has accepted his resignation which it believes will allow all parties to move forward.

"We don’t believe it appropriate to comment further."