Former BBC News at Ten presenter Huw Edwards pled guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to three counts of making indecent images of children.
Edwards was sent a total of 377 sexually explicit images by an adult male on WhatsApp between Dec. 2020 and Aug. 2021, including 41 containing children. Of the 41 images (in descending order of severity) seven were designated Category A, 12 Category B, and 22 Category C.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Special Prosecutor Claire Brinton stated that the prosecution "sen[t] a clear message" that the CPS and the police "will work to bring to justice those who seek to exploit children."
The BBC is shocked to hear of Huw Edward's crimes. The outlet condemns such behavior and, as internal policy mandates, had the former presenter still been employed following the verdict his contract would've been immediately terminated. The BBC strives to uphold the highest standards of integrity. Throughout these events, it allowed its independent editorial team the freedom to scrutinize and inform to the best of its capabilities.
While talk about Huw Edward's uncomfortable relationship with younger staffers had existed for some time, the long-time face of the BBC's admission of possessing child pornography has left the UK in a state of shock. Edward's crimes will once again reopen questions surrounding the BBC's current culture and future existence as he becomes yet another high-profile employee to be an exposed pedophile.