Former BBC Presenter Huw Edwards Admits to Making Indecent Images of Children

The esteemed former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent images of children.

The 62-year-old broadcaster admitted to possessing 41 such images on WhatsApp, including seven classified as the most severe category.

The court heard that Edwards committed these offenses between December 2020 and April 2021.

Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children (Picture: Ben Cawthra/LNP)

Edwards admitted having 41 images on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious type (Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

He engaged in online chats with an adult male during this period, who sent him 377 sexual images, of which 41 were indecent images of children. The majority of these images—36—were exchanged during a two-month span.

On February 2, 2021, the man asked if the images were too young, to which Edwards responded by instructing him not to send any underage content.

Despite this, Edwards received images across three categories: seven in Category A, the most serious, 12 in Category B, and 22 in Category C.

The court heard that Edwards had been involved in online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021, (Picture: Isabel Infantes/AFP via Getty Images)

The court was informed that most of the children depicted in Category A images appeared to be between the ages of 13 and 15, with one estimated to be between 7 and 9 years old. The final indecent image, a Category A film featuring a young boy, was sent in August 2021.

Edwards was told that the boy looked very young and that more illegal images were available, but he directed the sender not to send any more illegal content. The conversation continued with legal pornographic material until April 2022.

Edwards was flanked by police officers as he arrived at court (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Edwards refused to answer any questions on his way in (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

During the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Edwards appeared anxious and fidgeted with his hands as Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring reviewed his bail conditions. Edwards’ defense attorney, Philip Evans KC, highlighted that there was no evidence Edwards had created or distributed the images and emphasized that no such materials were found on his devices.

Evans also pointed to Edwards’ health issues and his previously good character, suggesting that his remorse was genuine.

The court is considering a range of potential penalties, including a suspended sentence or a community order with a sexual offender treatment program, depending on Edwards’ prospects for rehabilitation.

Edwards will next appear in court in September (Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

Sentencing guidelines suggest a starting point of 12 months for possession of a Category A image, with a range from 26 weeks to three years.

For Category B images, the starting point is 26 weeks, while Category C images may result in a community order.

Edwards will next appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 16 for sentencing. As he left the court, he was surrounded by photographers, and there were clashes with security personnel, resulting in some photographers being knocked down and a camera being damaged.

Earlier statements from the Metropolitan Police confirmed Edwards’ arrest in November 2023 and his subsequent charges on June 26, 2024.

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Edwards is currently on bail (Picture: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock)

A police spokesperson noted that the offenses related to images shared on WhatsApp and that Edwards was charged following an investigation by the Met Police.

In the wake of these revelations, former colleague Sir Craig Oliver remarked on Edwards’ complex personality, noting past issues but expressing shock at the guilty plea.

Oliver described Edwards as a difficult and complicated individual, but stated that no one suspected him of child exploitation.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has denied claims of preferential treatment for Edwards, stating that their handling of the case followed normal procedures. The CPS clarified that decisions on charging announcements are based on operational factors and emphasized that no defendant receives special treatment.

Edwards, who was one of the BBC’s most prominent figures, had worked at the corporation for 40 years, including as the presenter of BBC’s News At Ten. He was the highest-paid newsreader at the BBC before he left the organization in April 2024 due to health issues and allegations related to sexually explicit images.