The Metropolitan Police have named convicted paedophile Alex Williams as the man who shared indecent images of children with former BBC presenter Huw Edwards.
Edwards, 62, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making 41 indecent images of children. The images were received from Williams, who is 25 years old.
Williams had previously pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing category A, B, and C images, as well as possessing indecent images of children. He was sentenced to a 12-month jail term at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on March 15.
Police began investigating Edwards after a phone seized during an unrelated probe revealed the broadcaster’s participation in a WhatsApp conversation involving indecent images. Edwards was charged on June 26 and appeared in court today for the first time since his arrest.
The court heard that Edwards had been involved in an online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021. During this time, he received 377 sexual images, 41 of which were indecent images of children. Among these, seven were classified as category A, the most serious type.
Edwards arrived at court this morning, flanked by police officers and greeted by a crowd of paparazzi and protesters. The former BBC News anchor, once a prominent figure trusted to deliver the nation’s news, now faces the disgrace of his actions.
Following the court appearance, the BBC issued a statement condemning Edwards’ actions. 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.”
The statement continued, “There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected.”
Edwards’ guilty plea marks a significant and tragic fall from grace for the once-revered broadcaster. The BBC’s handling of the situation has been criticized, with some accusing the corporation of failing to act swiftly and decisively.
Key Points:
- Conviction: Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to making 41 indecent images of children.
- Source: The images were sent by convicted paedophile Alex Williams, who is serving a 12-month sentence.
- Investigation: Police uncovered Edwards’ involvement through an unrelated investigation.
- BBC’s Response: The corporation stated that Edwards would have been sacked if he had been charged while still employed.
This revelation adds Edwards’ name to a list of disgraced BBC personalities, highlighting ongoing concerns about the corporation’s handling of misconduct among its staff.
