Disgraced former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been spared jail after admitting to accessing indecent images of children as young as seven, and many people have taken to social media in outrage at the sentence.
The 63-year-old previously admitted three charges of ‘making’ indecent photographs after he was sent 41 illegal images by convicted paedophile Alex Williams over WhatsApp.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Edwards was handed a six-month prison sentence suspended by two years, which means he can avoid jail time if he doesn’t commit another offence in that time.
He will also be required to complete a sex offender programme, and will be placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.
Following his sentencing, the BBC issued a statement, saying: ‘We are appalled by his crimes. He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him.’
The chief magistrate, district judge Paul Goldspring, went through the mitigating factors taken into account while deciding on the sentence.
He said he believed the former broadcaster’s remorse was genuine and that his mental health at the time of the offences could have impaired his decision-making.
But the judge added that the financial and reputational damage Edwards suffered was ‘the natural consequence of your behaviour which you brought upon yourself’.
He continued: ‘I am of the clear view that you do not present a risk or danger to the public at large, specifically to children. There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.’
The judge declined to make a sexual harm prevention order against Edwards.
A psychiatrist’s report, referenced by the judge in his sentencing remarks, concluded Edwards was at ‘considerable risk of harm from others’ and the risk of taking his own life was ‘high and significant’ if he was imprisoned.
In response to the mitigations and suspended sentence, many people have taken to social media in outrage.
TalkTV presenter Alex Armstrong took to X, and wrote: ‘Huw Edwards gets A SUSPENDED SENTENCE. He’s got off on “mental health” as they were concerned for his safety. What about the safety of CHILDREN! TwoTier justice AGAIN! Disgrace. Absolute disgrace. I’m disgusted.’
5 News correspondent Julian Druker said: ‘Huw Edwards’ legal team stress 95% of the indecent images downloaded by the former presenter were “self directed” ie. underage boys taking images of themselves. Not sure what @nspcc etc would say about this sort of detail used as mitigation.’
Comedian Suzanna Maria Kempner compared his sentence to that of environmental protestors, and wrote: ‘Huw Edwards gets a suspended sentence. Good job he hadn’t done anything as bad as planning an environmental protest over Zoom.’
Another appalled X user @IslandJelli said: ‘Huw Edwards is seeking mitigation for “poor mental health”. That’s NO EXCUSE for committing, or being complicit in, child sexual abuse CAUSING life-long trauma.
‘Many good people live with CRUSHING personal tragedy & MH probs. Edwards had control; he CHOSE to harm kids.’
Reacting to the sentence Rani Govender, Child Safety Online Policy Manager at the NSPCC, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Online child sexual abuse is at record levels and offenders like Edwards who fuel this crime should be in no doubt about its severity and the impact it has on victims.
‘Companies must also act by putting technology in place that can identify and disrupt child abuse images being shared on their messaging services so victims can be safeguarded and offenders prosecuted.
‘If anyone is sent or sees a child abuse image online they should report it immediately. The NSPCC Helpline is available for advice and support in this situation or if you are concerned about the safety of a young person.
‘You can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 or emailing help@NSPCC.org.uk.’
Prior to the sentencing Lynn Perry, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, previously told Metro.co.uk: ‘The sexual abuse of children, including abuse online, has a devastating and life-long effect on the lives of survivors.
‘Huw Edwards was a trusted public figure at the heart of the national media for decades. In the midst of this case, we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that at the heart of this are children as young as seven who are victims of horrific sexual abuse.
‘Tens of thousands of children are sexually exploited or groomed online every year. We urge tech companies to take action to make sure abuse material can’t be shared on their platforms.
‘When children are abused, and images of this are shared online, they must receive urgent, specialist support – something that is sadly unavailable to many children nationwide.’
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