- Edwards pleads guilty to indecent photos
- Had 41 photos, seven Category A
- No evidence he made or shared images
The 62-year-old presenter had 41 indecent photographs on WhatsApp, seven of which were the most serious.
Huw Edwards, a former BBC newsreader, pled guilty to creating obscene photographs of children.
The 62-year-old, who entered Westminster Magistrates’ Court dressed in a dark blue suit, blue tie, and black sunglasses, pleaded to three crimes between December 2020 and April 2022.
On WhatsApp’s messaging program, he had 41 photos, seven in Category A, 12 in Category B, and 22 in Category C.
According to the court, most category A photographs, which are the most serious, depict youngsters aged 13 to 15.
However, according to authorities, there were two moving photos of a small child, likely between seven and nine years old.
WhatsApp chat
The court heard Edwards communicated online with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021.
The individual emailed Edwards 377 pornographic photographs, including 41 obscene images of youngsters. Most of these 36 photos were delivered over two months.
The court heard that in February 2021, the man asked Edwards if the people in the photos he was sending were too young, to which Edwards replied that he should not transmit anything illegal.
No further messages were delivered, but the couple continued to trade legal pornographic photographs until April 2022, the court heard.
Edwards’ defense counsel, Philip Evans KC, stated that there was no evidence that the former broadcaster made or created any of the photographs, which were merely on his WhatsApp.
He stated that Edwards, arrested in November of last year and charged on June 26, did not keep or transfer photographs, nor did he request images from anyone else.
He stated that there is no evidence in this case that Mr. Edwards has generated any image in the classic sense of the word.
“It is also crucial to note for context that devices, specifically Mr Edwards’ gadgets, have been seized and searched, and there is nothing in those devices.
“The charges are exclusively for the photographs sent over WhatsApp chat.
Mr Edwards did not store any photographs, did not email any to anybody else, and has not looked for similar images anyplace else.
What exactly does the term making images mean?
According to the CPS, “making” includes opening, accessing, downloading, and storing content and receiving an image over social media, even if it was unsolicited and part of a group.
Category A photographs are the most severe, featuring penetrative sexual action, sexual behavior with an animal, or sadism, while category B images feature non-penetrative sexual activity.
Category C refers to photos that do not represent sexual behavior and do not fit into categories A or B.
Earlier investigation
Edwards was one of the BBC’s most visible and well-paid presenters before resigning in April. According to the BBC, the decision was made “on medical advice.”
The broadcaster resigned after facing separate allegations of paying a youngster hundreds of pounds for sexually graphic pictures.
Five days after the claims were published in The Sun, the Metropolitan Police announced that it would not take any further action since it did not believe any criminal behavior had occurred.
“Seize the opportunity: Sign up for Webull UK and receive free shares!”
Following the publishing of the allegations, Edwards’ wife stated in a statement at the time that he was “suffering from serious mental health issues.” She was “receiving in-patient hospital care.”
Edwards formerly hosted BBC News At Ten for 20 years, anchoring coverage of key national events such as Queen Elizabeth II’s death and funeral.
According to the corporation’s most recent annual report, he was formerly the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader, earning between £475,000 and £479,999 for 160 presenting days, BBC One news specials, election specials, and other TV programming in 2023/24.
Edwards will be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 16.
