Huw Edwards was sentenced today for receiving sexual images of children after he admitted to three charges of making indecent photographs in July, accepting he was sent 41 illegal images.
He has been sentenced to 6 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years with two conditions: 1) that he attends a sex offender treatment programme for a period of 40 days; and 2) that he completes 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. The Chief Magistrate acceded to the defence submission that a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was not necessary.
Making indecent photographs includes opening an image. The former BBC newsreader was contacted on social media and subsequently sent images on a chat thread on WhatsApp. He was sent 377 images and of those 41 were indecent. Mr Edwards asked the male sending the material not to send underage images. Mr Edwards did not keep the images nor send them on. .
Philip Evans KC has been representing Huw Edwards since the criminal investigation, pre-charge. He was instructed by Ellen Peart of BCL Solicitors LLP.
Philip Evans KC