He has long been the BBC’s most famous face and highest-paid journalist. Former presenter Huw Edwards was sentenced on Monday 16 September to six months’ suspended prison and compulsory treatment for possession of images of child pornography, the conclusion of an embarrassing case for the British public media group.
Huw Edwards, 63, who has been closely involved in the major events in Britain since the early 2000s, pleaded guilty in July, saving him from a lengthy and controversial trial.
He faced ten years in prison, but the judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court followed the prosecution’s arguments, which had highlighted his psychological problems and the “sincere regret” voiced. “Your reputation is in tatters”Judge Paul Goldspring told the host as he delivered the sentence.
During the hearing, Huw Edwards’ lawyer, Philip Evans, said his client admitted “repulsive nature” images that I had received and that I was “I am deeply sorry”. “He betrayed the invaluable trust of so many people”he insisted, while Huw Edwards only spoke at the beginning of the hearing to confirm his identity.
“He betrayed not only the BBC, but also the public”
The affair had a huge impact in Britain and embarrassed the BBC. In early August, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that “shocked and dismayed” for the matter. “We are appalled by his crimes. He has betrayed not only the BBC but also the public who trusted him.”a BBC spokesperson reacted in a written statement.
Huw Edwards joined the BBC in 1984. A political journalist, he became presenter of the 6pm news in 1994, before becoming the face of the 10pm news. Covering major events, such as the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton or the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Huw Edwards was the channel’s highest-paid journalist.
His downfall came suddenly, in the summer of 2023, when the tabloid the sun He claimed he paid a teenager in exchange for sexual photographs and was suspended. No legal action was taken at the time. But new allegations led the courts to charge him in June 2024, two months after his resignation. This time, the investigation shows that Huw Edwards was in contact via WhatsApp with a man who sent him images of child pornography. The charges against him relate to 41 images, some of which depict a child aged between 7 and 9, received between December 2020 and August 2021.
These illegal images found had been “clearly sent with Mr. Edwards’ agreement”according to the prosecution. Huw Edwards’ lawyer insisted that his client had only received these images, without sharing them.
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The affair was a blow to the BBC. Severely criticised for its handling of the scandal, it carried out an internal investigation and concluded that its procedures for handling complaints about the behaviour of its employees were inadequate. The broadcasting giant, which said “surprised” In the matter, he announced that he was seeking to recover the salaries paid to his former presenter after his arrest last November.
