Ex-BBC presenter Huw Edwards pleads guilty to making indecent images of children

Huw Edwards, a former high-profile BBC newsreader, has pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.

Edwards, aged 62, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (July 31) wearing a blue suit and dark sunglasses. The charges against him involve three offences that allegedly took place between December 2020 and April 2022.

He is accused of possessing 37 indecent images on WhatsApp, with six categorised as the most serious (Category A), twelve as Category B, and nineteen as Category C. These images were purportedly shared via WhatsApp.

Edwards was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in November last year and charged on June 26. If found guilty, he could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The former newsreader, who had been one of the BBC’s highest-paid presenters, resigned in April after a 20-year career, during which he fronted major news programs and covered significant national events, including the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death and her funeral.

According to the BBC’s latest annual report, Edwards’ pay was between £475,000 and £479,999 for the year 2023/24.

What is ‘an indecent image’?

There is no legal definition of an ‘indecent image’. What is or is not indecent is for a jury to decide using an objective test. However, some examples of indecent images, such as:

• Children engaging in sexual activity either with another child or an adult.
• Naked or partially naked children.
• Children posing sexually.
• Selfies of children acting or posing in a sexual way.

Under the Protection of Children Act 1978 (as amended), it is prohibited to take, make, circulate, and possess with a view to distribute any indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child. A child is defined as a person under 18 years.

In addition, section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 makes possession of indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children (without plans to distribute them) a criminal offence.

What does ‘make’ an indecent image mean?

It is important to note that the term “make” has been given a broad interpretation by the courts and includes:

• Opening an indecent image through an email attachment.
• Downloading an image from a website onto a computer screen.
• Storing an image in a directory on a computer (although depending on where that image is stored, this could also be a simple possession charge under section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

When it comes to ‘sharing’ indecent images, you may be convicted if the prosecution can prove beyond reasonable doubt that you sent the image via email, placed it on a file-sharing platform or uploaded it to a site that other people have access to.

This is referred to as distribution as is considered more serious by the courts as it involves the dissemination of the material.

How are indecent images categorised?

Under the Sentencing Council’s guidelines for sexual offences which includes indecent images of children, indecent images offences are grouped into three categories:

• Category A – Images involving penetrative sexual activity, sexual activity with an animal, or sadism
• Category B – Images involving non-penetrative sexual activity
• Category C – Indecent images not falling in categories A or B

Further reading

Sexual abuse/domestic abuse claims – Oakwood Solicitors

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.