ALEX Williams’ neighbors told of their horror at discovering he was the nutjob who sent child sex images to Huw Edwards.
The 25-year-old convicted pedophile was today unmasked for the first time as the man who sent 41 indecent images – including two videos of a boy aged just seven – to the former newsreader in a sick WhatsApp chat.
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Williams, from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to a series of child sex offences.
His neighbors, who had no idea they were living next door to a vile criminal on a property with “lots of young children”, have now shared his “disgust”.
Mum-of-two Megan Haines, 26, said: “It’s disgusting, this is an estate with lots of children playing in the street every day.
“Why weren’t we informed that he was convicted of pedophilia crimes four months ago?
“He managed to keep it a secret from everyone, even his parents didn’t know.
“There should be a change in the law so that families know where pedophiles live.”
The mother says she lives four doors down from the house Williams gave as an address to Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.
She said: “I knew Alex best when I was a kid, we’re almost the same age so we used to play together.
“He still lives on the street with his mother and father, so I would see him passing by.
“A few years ago, my daughter had a fall and he took us to the hospital. It’s crazy that he did this and got involved with Huw Edwards.
“Many children play on this street, it is a very united community. As far as I know he still lives here, I only saw him a few days ago.”
Another mother, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed her neighbor’s concerns.
She said: “I’m furious, my children play at the end of the street where he lives because it’s quieter.
“Why didn’t they tell us a convicted pedophile lives there?”
Another added: “It’s terrible. Just tell him never to come back here again.”
It’s disgusting, this is a property with lots of children playing in the street every day.
Megan Haines
Police investigating Williams’ crimes seized a phone which revealed a WhatsApp conversation involving Edwards.
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.
They 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.
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 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.
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.
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 famous broadcaster had been arrested over child sex images, but continued paying him for another five months.
Edwards, who had been suspended in relation to a number of allegations, remained employed on a full salary of almost £480,000 until he left the broadcaster on “medical advice” in April.
The BBC’s annual report presented last week by Director-General Tim Davie revealed that Edwards was the third highest-paid star from April 2023 to March this year and even received a pay rise.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is now calling on Davie to explain why the BBC continued to pay Edwards after his arrest.
Conservative shadow culture minister Julia Lopez said: “Licence payers have a right to know why Mr Edwards was paid such a high salary, given the timing and nature of the allegations.”
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.”
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.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
