- Image of minors: Ex-BBC presenter admits to rape
Prominent former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to charges of possessing indecent images of minors. The 62-year-old Briton admitted the charges in a London court.
This means there will be no trial. Sentencing will take place on September 16, with Edwards facing the possibility of imprisonment.
Prosecutors allege that he received 37 images from an adult chat partner. He is accused of three offenses. In the UK, "possession of indecent images" also includes storing or downloading images.
The long-serving star presenter was escorted to court by several police officers. Photographers and camera crews jostled for position, with some reporters falling and a camera being broken.
Edwards was one of the BBC's most well-known and highest-paid presenters. He was the face of the corporation's main evening news bulletin for 20 years and presented coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's death in September 2022.
In July 2023, allegations emerged that Edwards had received intimate photos and videos from a then-underage person in exchange for large sums of money over an extended period. The BBC suspended the presenter, who later left the organization. No criminal investigation was launched in that case.
Following the recent admissions, the Metropolitan Police arrested Edwards in November 2023 and released him on bail. He was charged on Monday.
Despite his storied career as a television presenter, the charges of possessing indecent images have led to the suspension and eventual departure of Huw Edwards from the BBC. His past role as the presenter of the corporation's main evening news bulletin and coverage of significant events, such as Queen Elizabeth II's death, contrasts starkly with the current legal proceedings.
