Huw Edwards has been handed a suspended six-month sentence (Picture: PA)
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’.
The disgraced former BBC presenter will also be on the sex offenders register for 7 years (Picture: James Manning/PA Wire)
He could avoid jail if he does not commit another offence for two years (Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
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.’
Source:: Metro
