BBC’s Huw Edwards statement in full after presenter pleaded guilty to making child sex images
THE BBC have released a full statement after Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to making child sex images.
The former news anchor, 62, today admitted being sent a string of indecent images of children – including sexual videos of a boy as young as seven.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today. There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected.
“The police have confirmed that the charges are not connected to the original complaint raised with the BBC in the summer of 2023, nevertheless in the interests of transparency we think it important to set out some points about events of the last year.
“In November 2023, whilst Mr Edwards was suspended, the BBC as his employer at the time was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation.
“At the time, no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health.
“Today we have learnt of the conclusion of the police process in the details as presented to the court.
“If at any point during the period Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been charged, the BBC had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him. In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC.
“During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions.
“We want to reiterate our shock at Mr Edwards’ actions and our thoughts remain with all those affected.”
It has now emerged the disgraced news reader – who helmed royal and political events at the BBC before resigning in April – was only exposed by chance by cops in Wales.
Detectives stumbled onto the household-named star while investigating another paedophile, 25-year-old Alex Williams from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
When officers from South Wales Police seized Williams’ phone, they uncovered a vile WhatsApp chat full of child pornography – which father-of-five Edwards was involved in.
Convicted paedophile Williams previously pleaded guilty to a string of child sex offences.
The force said the 25-year-old pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing category A, B and C images as well as possessing prohibited images of children.
He was sentenced to a suspended 12-month jail sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on March 15.
Edwards was arrested on November 8, 2023 before being charged on June 26 with three counts of making indecent images.
Edwards showed no emotion today as he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told seven of the 41 images fall under Category A – the most serious classification.
This included two moving images of a young boy, possibly aged seven and nine years old.
He also had photos of other children aged between 13 and 15 stored on his phone.
A further 12 images were classed as Category B and 19 as Category C.
No more indecent images more were sent after August 2021, but the pair continued to exchange legal pornographic images until April 2022.
The ex-presenter could face a maximum of ten years in prison when he is sentenced on September 16.