London
The Gentleman Report
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Former BBC information presenter Huw Edwards has been sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years by means of a London courtroom for having indecent pictures of kids, in line with PA Media.
The suspended sentence comes with necessities together with the crowning glory of a intercourse culprit remedy program and 25 rehabilitation periods.
Edwards, who was once the BBC’s highest-paid journalist, pleaded to blame in July to having 41 indecent pictures of kids.
Leader Justice of the Peace Paul Goldspring stated whilst sentencing Edwards that it was once “obtrusive” that the journalist was once “very very talked-about by means of the general public” till details about his crimes become public.
“It’s not an exaggeration to mention your long-earned recognition is in tatters,” the Justice of the Peace stated.
The courtroom had in the past heard that Edwards had engaged in on-line chat with an grownup guy on WhatsApp, who despatched him 377 sexual pictures, 41 of that have been indecent pictures of kids.
The grownup guy who despatched Edwards the pictures is a convicted pedophile, the courtroom heard on Monday. Edwards despatched him masses of kilos “it sounds as if off the again of (him) sending pornographic pictures,” prosecutor Ian Hope stated.
Protection barrister Philip Evans KC stated that the journalist “didn’t make bills to ensure that pictures to be despatched to him, and he undoubtedly didn’t make bills so that indecent pictures could be despatched to him.”
Seven of the pictures shared with Edwards have been of probably the most severe form of indecent pictures of kids underneath English legislation. Lots of the youngsters featured in them have been estimated to be between 13 and 15 years outdated. One kid was once elderly between seven and 9.
The alleged offenses have been dedicated between December 2020 and August 2021, in line with the Crown Prosecution Carrier of England and Wales.
The courtroom in the past heard that Edwards advised a person on WhatsApp to not ship him underage pictures after the person requested if the pictures he was once sending have been too younger. Not more unlawful pictures have been despatched after that message, the courtroom heard, however the pair have been stated to proceed exchanging felony pornographic pictures till April 2022.
Evans, the protection legal professional, stated Monday that Edwards “didn’t achieve any gratification” from the indecent pictures, including that the journalist is “in point of fact sorry he has dedicated those offenses.”
“He acknowledges the repugnant nature of such indecent pictures and the harm this is carried out to those that seem in such pictures,” Evans added. “For his section in that, he apologizes sincerely.”
Edwards offered each the Information at Six and the BBC’s flagship Information at Ten – an identical to the anchor of a community night time information program in america. He introduced the demise of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and was once steadily the face of BBC Information specials.
The anchor was once suspended from the BBC in July 2023 and was once arrested 4 months later, however handiest stepped down from his function in past due April this yr.
He was once stored at the BBC’s payroll right through this time, receiving £200,000 (just about $264,000) within the months between his arrest and his resignation. The BBC, which is predominantly funded by means of UK families by the use of a license charge, requested Edwards at hand again that portion of his wage.
The United Kingdom’s Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy has additionally stated the cash will have to be returned.
The broadcaster’s governing board stated in August that Edwards pleaded to blame to “an appalling crime.”
“He has obviously undermined accept as true with within the BBC and taken us into disrepute,” the board stated.
The Gentleman Report’s Jessie Gretener contributed to this file.
