Huw Edwards: Police name convicted paedophile who shared images with former broadcaster
Police have named the convicted paedophile who sent images to Huw Edwards
PA
The Metropolitan Police have named a convicted paedophile as the man who shared indecent images of children with Huw Edwards.
The former BBC presenter appeared in court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making 41 indecent images of children.
The force said Alex Williams, 25, is the convicted paedophile involved in the 62-year-old's charges.
Williams pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing category A, B and C images as well as possessing indecent images of children.
He was sentenced to a 12-month jail sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on March 15.
Police said an investigation into Edwards began after a phone seized by officers as part of an unrelated probe revealed the broadcaster's participation in a WhatsApp conversation.
Huw Edwards appeared in court on Wednesday morning
PA
Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning, Edwards pleaded guilty to the charges.
The former BBC News star was accused of having dozens of photographs on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious type.
He arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court to a hoard of paparazzi and protesters this morning for his first court appearance since being charged on June 26.
Edwards walked up to court from a neighbouring street on his own while being flanked by police.
Police have named the convicted paedophile who sent images to Huw Edwards
PA
The offences were committed between December 2020 and August 2021.
The court heard that Edwards had been involved in an online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021, who sent him 377 sexual images, of which 41 were indecent images of children.
The BBC broke its silence following the court appearance, insisting Edwards "would have been sacked" over the "abhorrent" crime had he still been working for the corporation.
A statement read: "Today we have learnt of the conclusion of the police process in the details as presented to the court.
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Huw Edwards pleaded to guilty to charges at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday
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"If at any point during the period Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been charged, the BBC had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him. In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC.
“During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions.
"There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected."
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