Huw Edwards, 62, pleads GUILTY to three counts of making indecent images of children

The 62-year-old arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court to hoard of paparazzi and protestors 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 flanked by police.

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 bulk of these, 36, were sent during a two-month period. On February 2, 2021 the male asked whether what he was sending was too young, in response to which Edwards told him not to send any underage images, the court heard.

The indecent images that were sent included seven Category A, the worst, 12 Category B, and 22 Category C.

Of the category A images, the estimated age of most of the children was between 13 and 15 - however, one was aged between seven and nine, the court was told.

Edwards was arrested in November last year and charged last month, but the details of those developments and his court appearance today were kept under wraps by authorities until Monday.

The former BBC News at Ten star stood in the dock just after 10am and spoke to confirm his name, his date of birth and his address in southwest London.

He then proceeded to plead guilty to having seven of the most serious Category A images, 12 Category B pictures and 22 Category C photographs on WhatsApp.

Those offences are contrary to a number of sections of the Protection of Children Act 1978. He could now receive a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

Claire Brinton of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Accessing indecent images of underage people perpetuates the sexual exploitation of children, which has deep, long-lasting trauma on these victims.

“The CPS and the Metropolitan Police were able to prove that Edwards was receiving illegal material involving children via WhatsApp.

“This prosecution sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside with the police, will work to bring to justice those who seek to exploit children, wherever that abuse takes place.”

Edwards was one of the BBC’s most prominent and highest-paid news anchors before he left the corporation in April on "medical advice".

He had been suspended by Beeb since July 2023 after his wife named him as the subject of a report by The Sun that alleged a high-profile BBC star had paid a teenager for explicit images.

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He was previously the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader, with a pay bracket of £475,000 to £479,999 for the year 2023/24 - a £40,000 increase on the year prior.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed the charges on Monday, saying in a statement: "Huw Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Met Police investigation.

"The offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat.

"Edwards was arrested on 8 November 2023. He was charged on Wednesday, 26 June following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service.

"He has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 31 July.

"Media and the public are strongly reminded that this is an active case. Nothing should be published, including on social media, which could prejudice future court proceedings."