I feel for the children harmed in this...It's just sick

THE young person who sparked the beginning of Huw Edwards' downfall has demanded to know why the BBC newsreader was not jailed, fearing he could prey on young people like him again.

- TOM BRYANT

The 21-year-old, whose mum and stepdad blew the whistle on Edwards paying him £35,000 in return for X-rated images, blasted the judge for letting him go free.

"Edwards ruined my life and the victims in this case can't be forgotten too," he said. "It's quite disgusting that people like this get to roam the streets while others are in jail for petty theft and more minor crimes.

"He's free to walk around and do whatever he wants. He could easily do it again, who knows?" In the end, Edwards was given a six-month suspended prison sentence after he admitted making indecent images of children.

"They said he couldn't go to prison because of his mental health and I just thought, what a load of rubbish. He shouldn't be allowed to get away with it," he added.

While not connected to the court case, the man was just a teenager living in Cardiff when he struck up a friendship with Edwards on Instagram.

Homeless at the time and needing money for hotels, he was grateful when Edwards began depositing large sums of money in his account. After it was sent, he says he felt compelled to send him X-rated pictures and videos.

He has previously told the Mirror that he felt "groomed by the BBC star over the course of their three-year relationship.

The young adult said yesterday he was horrified after learning during Edwards' separate court case how the news anchor was messaging paedophile Alex Williams at the same time as him.

And in a strikingly similar experience, the court heard how Edwards gave Williams cash and Nike trainers in return for "all the hot videos".