A PEDOPHILE who shared vile images of child sex with Huw Edwards has been exposed for the first time.
Alex Williams, 25, sent the veteran broadcaster 41 images – including two videos of a boy aged just seven – in a sickening WhatsApp chat.
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He previously pleaded guilty to a series of sexual offenses against children and received a suspended sentence.
When police launched an investigation into the convicted pedo, they seized a phone that exposed Edwards’ crimes.
The former BBC presenter yesterday admitted three charges of making indecent images of children.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told that seven of the 41 images fall into Category A – the most serious classification.
This included two moving images of a boy, possibly aged between seven and nine.
He also had photos of other children aged between 13 and 15 stored on his phone, classified as Category A.
Another 12 images were grouped as Category B and 19 as Category C.
Edwards chatted online with Williams on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021.
During this period, the pedo sent Edwards 377 sexual images, of which 41 were indecent images of children.
It has now emerged that Williams pleaded guilty in March to seven offenses relating to the possession and distribution of indecent images.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years.
His family have now spoken of their shock and revealed that Williams graduated from university in Cardiff two years ago.
Williams’ parents told the Daily Mail their son no longer lives with them and has denied knowledge of their crimes.
His grandmother claimed she had no idea her “quiet” grandson was involved in the Edwards case.
The grandmother said: “He’s a quiet boy, he works in Cardiff, I’m not sure what he does.
“This is a shock to me now.”
How are indecent images defined and categorized?
Under section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978, it is a criminal offense to possess indecent photographs of children.
The images are categorized into three groups ranging from A – the most serious – to C.
- Category A: Explicit material involving penetration, sexual activity with an animal or sadism (considered the most serious).
- Category B: Explicit material depicting non-penetrative sexual activity (intermediate in severity).
- Category C: Explicit material involving erotic poses (least severe).
Source: The CPS
Edwards now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years when he is sentenced on September 16.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that Edwards had not created any of the images.
In February 2021, Williams asked Edwards if the photos he was sending were too young – prompting the network to ask him not to send anything illegal.
Then, in August 2021, Edwards received a video featuring a boy “younger than virtually all other indecent images.”
Williams told Edwards the boy looked very young and had more illegal images.
The court heard that Edwards told him not to send illegal images.
‘Abominable behavior’
None of these photos or videos were sent and the pair continued to exchange legal pornographic images until April 2022.
The veteran radio host was arrested in November and charged on June 26 – although the information was only released on Monday.
The BBC confirmed yesterday that it knew that in November its main broadcaster had been arrested, but continued to pay him for another five months.
Corporate bosses, who revealed they had discovered that one of their top newsreaders had been questioned about child sex images in November, condemned his “abhorrent behavior”.
The BBC continued to pay Edwards, who had been suspended in relation to different allegations, but remained employed on a full salary of almost £480,000 until he left the broadcaster on “medical advice” in April.
It was revealed in the BBC’s annual report, presented last week by Director-General Tim Davie, that Edwards was the third highest-paid star from April 2023 to March this year.
FALL FROM GRACE
By Ed Southgate
Perverted presenter Huw Edwards had a glittering career at the BBC and was even tipped for a knighthood before his quick fall from grace.
He was an anchor on News at Ten when he bowed and shook hands with Queen Elizabeth II as she opened the Beeb’s new Broadcasting House in London in June 2013.
Edwards has held the nation’s hand through monumental events, including the Queen’s death and funeral in 2022, King Charles’ coronation last year and several general election night specials.
The veteran broadcaster, 62, was rumored to be in line for a knighthood for “standing together” when announcing the Queen’s death.
But after The Sun exposed his sick behavior, he left the BBC after 40 years and now faces jail.
He earned between £475,000 and £479,999 – up from £435,000 to £439,999 the previous year.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is now calling on Davie to explain why the BBC continued to pay Edwards after his arrest.
And Tory shadow culture minister Julia Lopez said: “License fee payers have a right to know why Mr Edwards was paid such a high salary, given the timing and nature of the allegations.”
The team described Edwards still being paid as an “embarrassment.”
Last week, Edwards was charged with three counts of making indecent images, but this remained secret until we broke the news on Monday.
Questions have also been raised about the secrecy surrounding the case.
Media lawyer Mark Stephens said: “It needs to be made very clear that he was not receiving any special treatment.”
TalkTV presenter Piers Morgan insisted: “The Sun was widely criticized for its investigation into Huw Edwards but has now been completely vindicated.”
Former Sun editor David Yelland, who criticized our reporting, said: “I criticized my old newspaper’s investigation into Huw Edwards, but editor Victoria Newton is vindicated by the fact that she has pleaded guilty to charges – albeit unrelated ones. The Sun has had a powerful victory, which makes children safer.”
BBC statement in full
“The BBC is shocked to hear the details that emerged in court today.
“There can be no place for such abhorrent behavior and our thoughts are with everyone affected. Police have confirmed that the charges are not related to the original complaint made to the BBC in summer 2023.
“However, in the interests of transparency, we consider it important to set out some points about the events of the past year.
“In November 2023, whilst Mr Edwards was suspended, the BBC, as his employer, was informed confidentially that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious crimes and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation.
“At the time, no charges were laid and the BBC was also informed of the significant risk to his health.
“Today we learned of the conclusion of the police case in the details presented to the court.
“If at any time during the period in which Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been accused, the BBC determined that it would act immediately to dismiss him. In the end, at the time of the accusation he was no longer employed by the BBC.
“During this period, in the usual way, the BBC kept the corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions. We wish to reiterate our shock at Mr Edwards’ actions and our thoughts remain with everyone affected.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
