Former BBC chief news presenter pleads guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children

LONDON (AP) — Huw Edwards, the former BBC chief news presenter, pleaded guilty Wednesday to three charges of making obscene images of children after he admitted accessing photos sent to him by a man via the WhatsApp messaging service.

During a 26-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London, the court heard that an unnamed man contacted Edwards via social media between December 2020 and April 2022 and sent hundreds of pornographic images on WhatsApp.

Of the 377 pornographic images sent, 41 were child pornography. Seven were classified as “category A,” the most pornographic category, and most of the children were estimated to be between 13 and 15 years old, but one was between 7 and 9 years old.

The last indecent image was sent in August 2021, a “grade A” pornographic video featuring a young boy. The man told Edwards that the child “looked young” and that he had more illegal images. Edwards then told him not to send any illegal images, and he never sent any more, but the two continued to exchange legal pornographic images until April 2022.

Claire Bullington, of the Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether cases should go to court, said: “Access to indecent images of minors can lead to the sexual exploitation of children and cause deep and lasting trauma to victims.

Edwards, who anchored the BBC’s evening news for 20 years and is responsible for the public broadcaster’s coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022 as well as election specials, has been bailed until a sentencing hearing on September 16. He could face up to 10 years in prison, although prosecutors acknowledged a suspended sentence might be appropriate.

Edwards, once one of the BBC’s highest-paid employees, was suspended in July 2023 over other allegations made last year. He later resigned for health reasons. He had not been seen in public before Wednesday’s hearing.

Defending Edwards, lawyer Philip Evans said there was “nothing to suggest” his client had “created any kind of imagery in the traditional sense”.

He added that Edwards “did not retain any images, sent any images to anyone else, or seek similar images from anywhere else.” He added that Edwards had issues with his “physical and mental health” and that he was “not only of good character, but of outstanding character.”

Prosecutor Ian Hope told the court that Edwards’ “genuine remorse” was one of the reasons for considering a suspended sentence. He listed the possible penalties provided for by law and said community orders and sex offender treatment programs could be considered as alternatives to prison if there was a possibility of rehabilitation.

A spokesman for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said there was “no doubt” about the seriousness of Edwards’ crimes.

“Young people can be extremely traumatised knowing sexually explicit images of themselves have been shared online,” the spokesperson said. “We also need to see online platforms do more to identify and stop child abuse on private messaging services to protect young people.”