Huw Edwards given suspended sentence after pleading guilty to child pornography charges

Huw Edwards was given a six month suspended sentence today at Westminster Crown Court after he pled guilty to child pornography charges.

The sentence is suspended for two years and includes a sex offender treatment programme and 25 rehabilitation sessions.

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring, who was presiding over the trial, said his crimes are “extremely serious offences” but Edwards does not present a risk or danger to children.

Edwards was in court for his sentencing after admitting to three charges of making indecent images of children in July.

The charges were relating to 41 images, seven were in the most severe category A, 12 were in category B, and 22 in were category C.

The images were said to show children between the ages of 12 and 15.

In Westminster today, the court heard how Edwards paid Alex Williams, a convicted pedophile, up to £1,500 for the images.

According to Sky News, prosector Ian Hope said Williams, who was a student at the time, first made contact with Edwards in 2018 in a hope to speak to a famous person. They then talked online for years sporadically until the summer of 2022.

The court was also told how they met in person once and video called in May 2018.

Mr Hope said in a December 2020 conversation: “Williams said that he had ‘a file of vids and pics for you of someone special’.”

“Mr Edwards immediately queried who the subject was and was then sent three images of seemingly the same person, from two of which images the subject’s age could be discerned as being between 14 and 16,” he said.

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The prosecutor then added that Williams said he had 12 videos and 42 images of a born he’d “sent before” to the presenter and after asked: “Want me to send you the full file?” to which Edwards responded: “Yes xxx…”.

Williams immediately sent around 30 attachments, about half of which were category C indecent images of children.

However, Mr Hope told the court that Edwards did not respond after Williams sent him a sexual video of children aged around seven to nine and 11 to 13 in February 2021. When asked by Williams if the content was too young for him, Edwards replied saying: “Don’t send underage”.

The prosecution added that Williams asked for money after sending Edwards pornographic images, and that Edwards then sent him between £1,000 and £1,500 to support him at university.

Mr Hope also explained to the court that Edwards, who was arrested on November 8th last year, had soon after been diagnosed with arteriosclerosis, a condition which causes the gradual hardening of arteries.

He said: “The effect of [this condition includes] impact on and impairment of mood, behaviour and judgement”.

His mental health was also spoken about in the hearing with Mr Hope saying: “It is accepted by the prosecution that Mr Edwards has suffered with depression and mental health issues, some of which are well known.”

The prosecution believes that a sexual prevention order is needed which would stop Edwards from reoffending.

Sky News reported that Mr Hope told the court that a “mere viewing” of indecent images of children “perpetuates sexual and psychological harm through exploitation of victims” even though the crime is “indirect”, and added that Edwards has been assessed and was found to pose a “medium risk of causing serious harm to children”.

He further explained that Edwards had told a probation officer about why he had viewed these images, claiming it came from a preoccupation for online communications of a sexual nature, his poor mental health, drinking alcohol and the decline of his personal relationship.

He also blames an increase in media attention which led to him having “increased levels of stress and anxiety”.

via BBC

However, Mr Hope notes that there is still the risk of Edwards viewing indecent images and engaging with sexual communication with others, despite receiving psychiatric help. Although, it was acknowledged that Edwards has been doing “well therapeutically” with his care.

Edwards’ defence then spoke to the court about the presenter, and said he got no “gratification” from the aforementioned images, and claimed he had “no memory” of viewing them.

Defending, Philip Evans KC told the court how his charges related to viewing the images, and he did not produce or create any of the pictures.

He also explained what the payments to Alex Williams were for, saying: “It was not payment for the purposes of receiving indecent images,” adding that Edwards “positively told” Williams not to send him photographs of children who were underage.

Mr Evans further noted that Edwards did not keep the images sent to him, nor did he send them to anyone else.

The defence continued by telling the court how Edwards had a clean record until these charges and had reached his late 50s as a man of  “positive good character”.

Mr Evans also explained how his client did not use his position to gain these images, and said Edwards “recognises the repugnant nature and the hurt done to those who appear” in the pictures and “for his part in that he apologises sincerely and makes clear he has the utmost regret.”

He added that Edwards is “truly sorry” for what he has done and apologised for how he “betrayed the priceless trust” put in him by the public.

As the defence was concluding, the court heard how a psychosexual therapist, who had spent more than 21 hours interviewing Edwards, found he presented a “low risk of reoffending”, with Mr Evans adding that a community sentence would be justifiable for his crimes.

Upon sentencing, chief magistrate, Paul Goldspring said Edwards had pleaded guilty and was previously of “exemplary character”, as well as being the “most recognised newsreader or journalist” in Britain.

However, noted that his “reputation is now in tatters”.

Mr Goldspring also told the court how he understands Edwards did not pay for the images and that he feels remorseful for what he has done.

He continued by explaining how the case has led to the breakdown of his marriage, and he outlined how Edwards is now an inpatient at Nightingale Hospital in London, a mental health facility.

He also added that there is a palpable risk of attempting suicide.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Breaking: Huw Edwards pleads guilty to making indecent images of children

• Full statement as Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter in ‘explicit photos’ scandal

• Cardiff University reviewing Huw Edwards’ honours after pleading guilty to child abuse images

Feature image via James Veysey/Shutterstock