Huw Edwards has been given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with a requirement to take part in a sex offenders rehabilitation course.
The former BBC presenter - who was charged with accessing indecent images of children as young as seven - arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court ahead of his sentencing hearing this morning (16 September).
Edwards, 63, was arrested on 8 November 2023 and was charged on 26 June following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service.
He previously pleaded guilty to three offences between December 2020 and April 2022, which included being sent 41 illegal images by convicted paedophile Alex Williams over WhatsApp.
It was confirmed in court that conversations between Edwards and Williams were 'sexual in nature', and that Edwards paid the convicted paedophile '£1,000 to £1,500' to 'support him at University'.
The court heard in text message exchanges that Williams said he had 'naughty' and 'young' images, to which Edwards replied: "Go on."
One of the images was of a child as young as seven or nine, while the estimated age of the other children was between 13 and 15.
Edward's defence, Phillip Evans KC, said today in court: “Mr Edwards wishes to apologise. He wishes the court to know how profoundly sorry he is. He recognises the repugnant nature of such images and the hurt that is done to those who appear in such images.
“For his part in that, he apologies sincerely and he makes it clear that he has the utmost regret.
“He recognises he has betrayed the priceless trust and faith of so many people. He knows that he has hurt and damaged his family and his loved ones around him.
“He is truly sorry and he is truly sorry that he has committed these offences.
“It is meaningful, his remorse, and he has demonstrated real recognition of the harm such images cause.”
In total, Edwards was accused of having access to seven category A images, 12 category B pictures and 22 category C photographs.
During sentencing, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said: “You were perhaps the most recognised newsreader and journalist in the UK.
“It is not an exaggeration to say your reputation is in tatters.”
He added: “You did not keep them and you did not send them on to anyone else. I accept that you had issues with your mental health. The degree that you received sexual gratification from the images is difficult to assess.”
On 22 April, Edwards confirmed his departure from the BBC, as a spokesperson said: "Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC.
"After 40 years of service, Huw has explained that his decision was made on the basis of medical advice from his doctors.
“The BBC has accepted his resignation which it believes will allow all parties to move forward."
After Edwards' guilty plea, the BBC said the 'board will commission an independent review that will make recommendations on practical steps that could strengthen a workplace culture in line with BBC Values'.
"The review will include work already being undertaken within the BBC, as well as working with the rest of the industry as appropriate," they said.
"We will set out terms of reference and leadership of this review in early September.
"The review will report to the Board within months, and will be published."
Featured Image Credit: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images/BBCTopics: Crime, Huw Edwards, UK News, BBC, WhatsApp
Anish Vij