Former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards, 62, has pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London. The charges relate to 41 images shared via WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021, including seven of the most serious category A images, which involve penetrative or sadistic sexual activity.Edwards, who was one of the BBC’s most prominent and highest-paid news anchors, resigned from his position in April 2024, citing medical advice. His career at the BBC spanned four decades, during which he fronted News At Ten and anchored coverage of major national events, including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.Prosecutor Ian Hope stated that the images included two pornographic videos of children possibly aged seven and nine years old. Edwards’ lawyer, Philip Evans, emphasized that there is ‘no suggestion’ that Edwards created any images himself, and that he did not keep or send any images to others.The case has sparked protests outside the court, leading to restrictions on the disclosure of Edwards’ address due to what prosecutor Ian Hope described as a ‘very volatile’ situation. Edwards appeared ‘calm and collected’ in the dock, according to reports.Edwards faces a potential maximum prison sentence of 10 years, with sentencing scheduled for September 16, 2024. The case has sent shockwaves through the British media landscape, given Edwards’ high profile and long-standing career at the BBC.
Key points
- Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
- The charges involve 41 images shared via WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious category.
- Edwards faces a potential 10-year prison sentence, with sentencing scheduled for September 16, 2024.
- The case has sparked protests and led to restrictions on disclosing Edwards’ address.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of images.
Some sources mention 41 images, while others report 37.
👾The exact timeline of events varies slightly between sources, with some mentioning Edwards’ arrest in November 2023 and others not specifying this detail.
