Former BBC star Huw Edwards admits making indecent images of children
The former TV presenter has admitted to making indecent images of children.
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Huw Edwards has admitted being sent a string of indecent photos of children – including a “moving image” of a boy as young as seven. The former BBC presenter, 62, received the pictures on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021.
Edwards, 62, today pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
Westminster Magistrates Court was told seven of the 41 images fall under category A – the most serious classification.
This included two moving images of young children, possibly aged between seven and nine years old, The Sun reported.
He also had photos of other children aged between 13 and 15 stored on his phone.
A further 12 images were classed as category B and 19 as category C.
The ex-presenter could face a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 16.
Prosecutor Ian Hope stressed Edwards had not created any of the images himself.
He said the newsreader was involved in an online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021.
During this time, the man sent Edwards 377 sexual images, of which 41 were indecent images of children.
In August 2021, the man asked Edwards whether the pictures he was sending were too young – causing the broadcaster to ask not to send anything illegal.
No more of these pictures or video were sent and the pair continued to exchange legal pornographic images until April 2022.
Edwards’ barrister Philip Evans KC told the court there was no suggestion the ex-newsreader had made or created any of the images.
He also said no indecent images had been found on any of Edward’s’ own devices and he had not looked for any such material from anyone else.
The lawyer added: “There’s no suggestion in this case that Mr Edwards has … in the traditional sense of the word, created any image of any sort.
“It is important also to remember for context that devices, Mr Edwards’ devices, have been seized, have been searched, and there’s nothing in those devices.
“It is only the images that are the subject of the charges that came via a WhatsApp chat.
“Mr Edwards did not keep any images, did not send any to anyone else and did not and has not sought similar images from anywhere else.”
The veteran broadcaster was arrested in November and charged on June 26 – although the information has only just been released.
The CPS has defended its decision to reveal the information on Monday ahead of his first court appearance – despite a lawyer describing the move as “puzzling”.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “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, June 26, following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service.
“He has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 31.”
Edwards quit the BBC in April after 40 years reporting on some of the world’s biggest stories.
This included leading coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.
The Sun revealed yesterday how the dad-of-five has split from his TV producer wife.
Edwards has moved out of the family home in Dulwich, South London, he shared with Vicky.
The couple, who got engaged in 1993, have three sons and two daughters.
Claire Brinton of the Crown Prosecution Service said today: “Accessing indecent images of underage people perpetuates the sexual exploitation of children, which has deep, long-lasting trauma on these victims.
“The CPS and the Metropolitan Police were able to prove that Edwards was receiving illegal material involving children via WhatsApp. “This prosecution sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside with the police, will work to bring to justice those who seek to exploit children, wherever that abuse takes place.”
This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission.
Originally published as Former BBC star Huw Edwards admits making indecent images of children
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