Whatever Happened to BBC Presenter Huw Edwards and MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson?

Disgraced BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been spared jail for receiving sexual images of children as young as seven from a convicted paedophile as he was handed a suspended sentence today. The Mail has more.

Huw Edwards was emotionless in the dock today after being handed a suspended sentence for receiving sick images of children as young as seven from a convicted paedophile.

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 held his hands together and leaned forward throughout his sentencing hearing as he was handed six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard Edwards told Williams “go on” when asked if he wanted “naughty pics and vids” of somebody described as “yng (sic)”.

The court also heard Edwards paid Williams hundreds of pounds after he sent him pornographic images, but his defence barrister Philip Evans KC said the broadcaster did not make payments to Williams in order to receive indecent images of children.

The prosecution said Williams asked Edwards for a “Christmas gift after all the hot videos”. Prosecutor Ian Hope said:” ‘Alex Williams says he wants some Air Force 1 trainers that cost around £100, and Mr Edwards offers to send him £200.”

Of the indecent images he received, the estimated age of most of the children was between 13 and 15, but one was aged between seven and nine.

Defence barrister Philip Evans KC said Edwards was “truly sorry” and “recognises repugnant nature” of the images sent to him. The journalist claimed alcohol and the decline in his mental health played a part in the sick chats. …

Edwards, one of the BBC’s most famous stars who presented the Queen’s death and King Charles’ coronation, has not been on TV since he was named by his wife as the high-profile presenter at the centre of a sexual pictures scandal in July 2023.

In the completely separate case, Edwards was accused of paying £35,000 to a young person in exchange for sexual images.

The Met Police confirmed that no criminal offence was committed in this instance.

The mother of the teenager told the Sun that Edwards has caused ‘immense pain and suffering’ and should be locked up.

Worth reading in full.

Representing Edwards, Philip Evans said his client had “no memory of viewing any of the images” (which is a very odd thing to claim in light of the messages where Edwards repeatedly asked for more). He added in mitigation:

Mr. Edwards wishes to apologise to the court. He wishes the court to know how profoundly sorry he is. He recognises the repugnant nature of such images. He apologises sincerely and makes it clear he has the utmost regret. He recognises he has betrayed the priceless trust of so many people.

There is a prospect of rehabilitation. The concept of making images here is not a concept of taking photographs or moving images. He was sent all of them.

It was not payment for the purpose of receiving indecent images. Mr. Edwards positively told Mr. Williams not to send images of people who are underage. That is important.

Stop Press: Our Editor-in-Chief has given a quote to the Telegraph about our “two-tier criminal justice system”:

Toby Young, the Director of the Free Speech Union, said: “Last month, a man was jailed for re-posting three offensive images about Muslims on Facebook, even though he deleted them shortly afterwards and apologised.

“Yet Huw Edwards, who pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, has been given a suspended sentence. It’s hard not to conclude we have a two-tier criminal justice system in which Islamophobia is punished more severely than paedophilia.”

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ER: An early July update that escaped our attention —

🚨BREAKING: Satanic Paedophile and Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is facing seven more sex offence charges. Donaldson is in court tomorrow for a total of 18 sexual offences. His wife is appearing in court with 5 more offences.

We are going to hear a lot more come out… pic.twitter.com/71UGy2QLVn

— The Yorkshire Lass (@real_shirelass) July 2, 2024

The 18 new sex crime charges levelled against Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP. 7 more than before.

■ A single count of rape against a child.
■ Four counts of gross indecency.
■ Thirteen counts of indecent assault.

He is free man, bail £ 350. The law of the privileged. This… pic.twitter.com/GFh393Q2mN

— Irlandarra (@aldamu_jo) July 2, 2024

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