Huw Edwards, a former BBC newsreader, has admitted to making indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to three offenses that took place between December 2020 and August 2021. The court heard that he had 41 photographs on the messaging app WhatsApp, with seven category A images, 12 category B pictures, and 22 category C images. The most serious images were of children aged 13 to 15, and there were two moving images of a young child, possibly aged between seven and nine years old.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Edwards had engaged in an online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and April 2022. The man sent Edwards 377 sexual images, of which 41 were indecent images of children. The defense lawyer for Edwards mentioned that there was no evidence to suggest that Edwards had created any of the images and that they were only found on his WhatsApp account.
The term “making” images, according to the CPS, can include various actions such as opening, accessing, downloading, and storing content, or receiving images via social media, even if unsolicited. Category A images are the most serious, while category B images involve non-penetrative sexual activity, and category C images do not depict any sexual activity.
Earlier this year, Edwards resigned from the BBC after facing separate claims of paying a teenager for sexually explicit pictures. However, the Metropolitan Police decided not to take any further action as they did not find evidence of criminal activity. Edwards’ wife stated that he was dealing with serious mental health issues and was receiving in-patient hospital care.
Edwards, who previously fronted the BBC’s News At Ten for 20 years, will be sentenced on 16 September. He was also known for anchoring coverage of major national events and was the highest-paid newsreader at the BBC. The seriousness of online child sexual abuse offenses was emphasized by organizations like the NSPCC and the Internet Watch Foundation.
The case of Huw Edwards serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of such crimes and the importance of safeguarding children online. It also highlights the legal implications of possessing indecent images of children and the consequences that individuals may face for engaging in such activities.
