On the last Wednesday of March the an ex BBC host Huw Edwards was in The Westminster Magistrates’ Court in which he admitted to three charges of committing sexually explicit pictures of young children. The 62-year-old broadcaster was found guilty in a police investigation that revealed the broadcaster was sent 377 images of sexuality via an online message, with 41 which were deemed to be sexually explicit pictures of kids. In one of them, a picture on his phone showed an infant just seven years old. older.
What Was Said in Edwards’ Defense?
Philip Evans KC, speaking on behalf of Edwards claimed that there is no proof that suggested Edwards was involved in the creation of any of the photos. He stressed that the accusations were solely related to photos obtained through the WhatsApp chat. Additionally, Evans highlighted that Edwards devices were thoroughly scanned and no additional illegal material was discovered. He also stated his position that Edwards didn’t save or share or request any other indecent images.
How Are Indecent Images Categorized?
The Sentencing Council divides indecent images into three categories, based on their severity:
- Category A The most extreme form, and contains images of sexual activity that is penetrative and/or sadism.
- Category B Images within this category depict sexual activity that is not penetrative.
- Category C The images that are deemed to be indecent, but don’t depict explicit actions listed in categories A and B.
In Edwards case, the inappropriate images comprised seven images from category A and 12, category B and 22 from category C.
Conclusion
The case of Huw Edwards has revealed not just the flaws in personal life of a prominent figure, but also the wider consequences of online communication and the ease at the possibility of illicit content being distributed and even received inadvertently. While the legal proceedings are ongoing the focus remains on the ramifications for Edwards career as well as the larger message that it conveys about the need for accountability in a digital age.
