A LIFE IN TATTERS

Pays cash for child pics | 'Hotvideos' offered to him

- DAN WARBURTON

DISGRACED Huw Edwards yesterday avoided jail despite receiving dozens of sickening indecent images of children.

The former BBC newsreader gave up to £1500 to a convicted paedophile in exchange for pictures of children as young as seven.

He was also asked for gifts and cash for “all the hot videos” by pervert Alex Williams. They included money 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 was yesterday handed a six-month sentence suspended for two years.

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring also placed dad-of-five Edwards, 63, on the sex offender register for seven years and ordered him to attend a sex offender treatment scheme.

The magistrate told him his 40-year career and reputation were “in tatters”.

Edwards, who had pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, 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.” Addressing Edwards, who fronted coverage of the Queen’s funeral in 2022 on the BBC, he added: “You are of previous good character, having enjoyed a very successful career in the media.