Huw Edwards Sent Significant Payments to Convicted Paedophile in Exchange for Child Images, Court Told
Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards, 62, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today for sentencing after pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children.
Prosecutors revealed that Edwards had transferred large sums of money to convicted paedophile Alex Williams in exchange for illicit images.
Prosecutor Ian Hope outlined how Edwards had sent “low hundreds of pounds on an occasional basis,” totaling between £1,000 and £1,500. While Williams claimed the payments were intended to support him during his time at university, it was discovered they were linked to the exchange of illegal material.
The court heard that in December 2020, Williams offered Edwards a “file of vids and pics” of a child, to which Edwards responded by asking about the subject’s age. Williams then sent three images, revealing the child to be between 14 and 16 years old. These images were categorized as “category C,” indicating they contained indecent material of children.
Williams later asked if Edwards wanted more images, to which Edwards replied affirmatively. In response, Williams sent 30 additional attachments, with half of them containing category C indecent images of children. He also requested a “Christmas gift” in return for the videos.
Prosecutor Hope further revealed that in December 2020, Williams offered to send 12 more videos, which Edwards praised, saying the “others were amazing.” However, the new batch contained a category C image of a child aged 12 to 14 and a category A image, the most severe type of indecent material involving children.
In another disturbing instance, the court was told that Edwards did not respond after Williams sent a category A video showing sexual acts between two children, aged seven to nine and 11 to 13. Although Edwards did not reply, the video was marked as “read” on his WhatsApp account.
On February 10, 2021, Williams sent another category A video featuring younger children than before. This video showed explicit acts involving children aged seven and nine. While there was no direct response from Edwards, the material was once again marked as “read.”
A week later, more indecent content was sent, including two category B videos and four category C images. Williams then asked on February 19, 2021, whether the material was “too young” for Edwards. Three days later, Edwards responded, telling him, “Don’t send underage.”
Despite this message, additional illegal material continued to be sent, including a category A video on June 10, 2021, involving children aged 13 to 15. This video was also marked as “read” on Edwards’ WhatsApp account.
Edwards was seen entering Westminster Magistrates’ Court with his legal team, carrying a suitcase. Inside the courtroom, he appeared “tired and drawn” as he faced sentencing.
The former BBC presenter had been on conditional bail since pleading guilty in July, having received 41 illegal images from Williams over WhatsApp between December 2020 and April 2021. Seven of these images were classified as the most serious category, involving children as young as seven.
Alex Williams, who was responsible for sending these images, had previously been convicted of seven offences and received a 12-month suspended sentence following an investigation by South Wales Police into his interactions with Edwards.
Although Edwards was arrested in November last year, the BBC continued to employ him for five months until he left the organization on medical grounds. The court may refer his case to a higher court if the presiding judge determines that their sentencing powers are insufficient for the seriousness of the offences.
