LONDON (AP) — The BBC said it is shocked at the “abhorrent” behavior of its former top news presenter Huw Edwards, who admitted Wednesday to accessing indecent images of children sent to him by a man via the WhatsApp messaging service.
During a 26-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London, the 62-year-old Edwards — for decades the trusted front man of BBC News — pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
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LONDON (AP) — The BBC said it is shocked at the “abhorrent” behavior of its former top news presenter Huw Edwards, who admitted Wednesday to accessing indecent images of children sent to him by a man via the WhatsApp messaging service.
This court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, right, with former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
He was released on bail until a pre-sentencing hearing on Sept. 16 and could face up to 10 years in prison, though the prosecution conceded that a suspended sentence may be appropriate.
The court was told that 377 sexual images were sent to Edwards on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021. Of them, 41 were indecent images of children, including seven classified as “category A,” which were the most indecent, with the estimated age of most of the children between 13 and 15. One child was aged between 7 and 9.
“The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today,” the public broadcaster said in a statement. "There can be no place for such abhorrent behavior and our thoughts are with all those affected."
Edwards’ admission of guilt marks a dramatic fall from grace. After starting at BBC Wales 40 years ago, Edwards was the lead anchor on the BBC’s nighttime news for two decades and led the public broadcaster’s coverage of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 as well as election specials.
One of the BBC’s top earners, he was suspended in July 2023 for separate claims made last year, and subsequently resigned in April on health grounds. No charges were brought in relation to those claims.
The BBC revealed that it was made aware in November “in confidence” that Edwards had been arrested on suspicion of serious offenses and released on bail while police continued their investigation. It added that it would have dismissed him if he had been charged.
It was revealed earlier this week that he had been charged in late June — at which point he "was no longer an employee of the BBC,” the broadcaster said.
Sophie Raworth, who was presenting the early evening news on Wednesday, stressed that the BBC news department is independent from the broadcaster's hierarchy. She said it only learned that Edwards had been charged on Monday along with everyone else when the Metropolitan Police revealed he was due in court Wednesday.
Following Edwards’ admission of guilt, police identified the man who sent the images to him as Alex Williams, 25. He was sentenced to a suspended 12-month sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court in Wales in March, after pleading guilty to possessing and distributing indecent images as well as possessing prohibited images of children.
An investigation into Edwards began after a seized phone revealed his participation in a WhatsApp conversation, police said.
“Accessing indecent images of underage people perpetuates the sexual exploitation of children, which has deep, long-lasting trauma on these victims,” said Claire Brinton of the Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether a case should go to court.
Speaking in Edwards’ defense, lawyer Philip Evans said there is “no suggestion” that his client had “in the traditional sense of the word, created any image of any sort.”
Edwards, he added, "did not keep any images, did not send any to anyone else, and did not and has not sought similar images from anywhere else.” He added that Edwards had “both mental and physical” health issues and that he is "not just of good character, but of exceptional character.”
Prosecutor Ian Hope told the court that Edwards' “genuine remorse” was one reason why a suspended sentence might be considered. Setting out the potential penalties under the law, he said that where there is the prospect of rehabilitation, a community order and sexual offender treatment program could be considered as alternatives to prison.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said in a statement that there should be “no doubt” about the seriousness of Edwards' crimes.
“It can be extremely traumatic for young people to know sexual images of themselves have been shared online," it said. “We also need to see online platforms do much more to identify and disrupt child abuse in private messaging services in order to safeguard young people.”
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
This court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, right, with former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
Church services with music and testimonials helped many to mourn the four people who died in the school shooting earlier in the week in Winder, Georgia.
The shooting Wednesday morning at Apalachee High School in Winder, outside Atlanta, has left the father and son behind bars, families planning funerals as law enforcement continues to investigate the case.
Fourteen-year-old Colt Gray stands charged with four counts of murder, accused of using a semiautomatic assault-style rifle to kill two students and two teachers this week at his high school. He had his first hearing Friday after being charged as an adult in the latest mass shooting at a school in the U.S.
Immediately after that hearing, his father, 54-year-old Colin Gray, appeared in the same courtroom, charged with multiple offenses for allowing his son to have a weapon.
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Fans observe a moment of silence for victims of Wednesday's school shooting at Apalachee High School before an NCAA college football game between Tennessee Tech and Georgia Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
An Apalachee High School student is embraced during a Sunday service at Bethlehem Church, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Bethlehem, Ga. Grief, pain, hope and faith permeated church services in an Atlanta area community coping with the nation’s latest deadly school shooting. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Senior Worship Pastor Joel Goddard sings during a Sunday service at Bethlehem Church, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Bethlehem, Ga. Grief, pain, hope and faith permeated church services in an Atlanta area community coping with the nation’s latest deadly school shooting. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Church members pray during a Sunday service at Bethlehem Church, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Bethlehem, Ga. Colt Gray, 14, has been charged with murder over the killing of two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, outside Atlanta, on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A member prays during a Sunday service at Bethlehem Church, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Bethlehem, Ga. Colt Gray, 14, has been charged with murder over the killing of two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, outside Atlanta, on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Colin Gray, 54, the father of Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray, 14, enters the Barrow County courthouse for his first appearance, on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, Pool)
Colt Gray, charged as an adult with four counts of murder, sits in the Barrow County courthouse during his first appearance for the Wednesday shooting at Apalachee High School, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, Pool)
This combo of booking images provided by the Barrow County, Ga., Sheriff's Office shows Colin Gray, left, and his son Colt Gray, who have been charged in relation to the Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, shootings at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga. (Barrow County Sheriff's Office via AP)
A memorial is seen at Apalachee High School after the Wednesday school shooting, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Linda Carter, of Grayson, Ga., kneels near Apalachee High School to place flowers as she mourns for the slain students and teachers on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
A memorial is seen at Apalachee High School after the Wednesday school shooting, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
People embrace at a makeshift memorial after a shooting Wednesday at Apalachee High School, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A medical helicopter flies out of Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Students and parents walk off campus at Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Chimain Douglas, of Grayson, Ga., cries near Apalachee High School as she mourns for the slain students and teachers on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Apalachee High School is seen a day after a shooting occurred at the school, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Students and parents walk off campus at Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Parents walk their child out of Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A poster with images of victims Christian Angulo, top left, Richard Aspinwall, top right, Mason Schermerhorn, bottom left, and Cristina Irimie is displayed at a memorial outside Apalachee High School, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Winder, Ga., following a shooting at the school earlier in the week. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
A medical helicopter is seen in front of Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Mourners pray during a candlelight vigil for the slain students and teachers at Apalachee High School, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)