Former BBC news anchor Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, including indecent images of minors as young as 7 years old. The 62-year-old journalist, who was one of the most recognizable faces on British TV as the host of the “News at Ten” program, admitted to possessing a total of 41 indecent images, seven of which were classified as Category A – the most serious offense.
During his court appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, Edwards hid his face behind dark glasses and confirmed his personal details before the court. Prosecutors stated that he had received a total of 377 sexual images, including images of minors, through WhatsApp messages with another unidentified adult man between December 2020 and August 2021. The court also heard that Edwards responded to concerns about the age of the minors in the images by telling the man not to send anything illegal.
Edwards’ defense lawyer emphasized that his client had not created, kept, or sent any of the images himself, and that they were only exchanged through a WhatsApp chat. Despite quitting the BBC in disgrace after 40 years following the incident, Edwards remained the top-earning news anchor for the broadcaster and received a significant pay raise despite being suspended for most of the year. The case highlights the issue of child pornography and online exploitation, and serves as a reminder of the legal implications associated with possessing and distributing such content.
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