A LIFE IN TATTERS

Pays cash for child pics | 'Hot videos' offered to him

-  DAN WARBURTON

HUW Edwards sent up to £1,500 to a convicted paedophile who shared sickening indecent images of children as young as seven with him.

And the depraved 63-year-old was also asked by Alex Williams to buy gifts in exchange for "all the hot videos". They included cash for Nike trainers and Christmas.

After receiving one image of a boy as young as 13, Edwards replied: "Amazing."

But the former News at Ten anchor yesterday avoided jail as he was handed a six-month sentence suspended for two years.

One of Britain's best-known newsreaders, his reputation and career now lie in ruins after he had pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.

HORRIFIC

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring placed dad-of-five Edwards on the sex offender register for seven years. He was also ordered to attend a sex offender treatment scheme.

Edwards remained motionless at Westminster magistrates court as Mr Goldspring outlined the horrific impact child abuse images have on their victims. Edwards was sent 377 sexual images by Williams, of which 41 were indecent images of children.

The magistrate said: "A child never does nor can consent. The continued distribution of child abuse images perpetuates a cycle of abuse to fulfil the demand for the sexualisation of children.

"Victims may be aware their images may be still on the internet, and this can lead to feelings of ongoing traumatisation."