Former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. According to Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Edwards admitted to having 41 child images sent to him by another man over WhatsApp. The charges included seven category A images, the most serious classification. The former news presenter is scheduled for sentencing on 16 September and will have a probation report compiled.
Edwards held a prominent role as a broadcaster until last year when he was one of the main presenters on BBC One’s News at Ten while also often fronting coverage of notable national events. He was apprehended last November and charged last month. Edwards’ arrest in November 2021 came after an investigation that occurred separately from other claims made against him and investigated the previous year.
Despite the charges, Edwards continues to deny any theory that he produced or sent images of his own. The court heard that he had involved himself in online chat on WhatsApp with an adult male who sent him 377 sexual images, including 41 child images. In addition to the category A pictures, he also had 12 category B pictures and 22 category C photographs. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, making indecent images has a broad definition and may include a person receiving such images through social media channels.
Edwards’ barrister reported to the court that the former broadcaster is “not only of good character” but of outstanding character. He further advised the court that Edwards had experienced both “mental and physical” health concerns in recent years. In April, Edwards resigned from the BBC on medical grounds and has not been on air since the previous July.
Edwards was accompanied by police officers and was surrounded by photographers during his court appearance. He stayed expressionless during and after the hearing, which took less than 30 minutes in total. The prosecution argued that this was a severe abuse of trust given that Edwards was in the public eye as a prominent national news figure
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