Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy will maintain an pressing assembly with BBC boss Tim Davie over his dealing with of the Huw Edwards case.
Edwards, who was the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader earlier than he resigned in April, pleaded responsible to a few counts of creating indecent photos of kids on Wednesday.
Questions have been raised over the BBC’s dealing with of the scandal after it emerged the company knew of Edwards’ arrest in November, however continued using him till April.
The company mentioned had he been charged whereas employed by the BBC, it might have acted “immediately to dismiss him”.
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The conviction additionally got here days after it was revealed Edwards was paid between £475,000 and £479,999 within the 2023-24 monetary 12 months, making him the BBC’s third-highest-paid presenter.
This was a major enhance on the earlier 12 months, when Edwards was paid between £435,000 and £439,999.
Ms Nandy is anticipated to satisfy Mr Davie later immediately, in keeping with reviews.
‘Shocked’ BBC condemns Edwards
In an announcement launched after Edwards’ responsible plea, the BBC mentioned it was “shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court”, including “there can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour”.
It mentioned on the time of his arrest “no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health”.
Edwards was paid between £475,000 and £479,999 within the 2023-24 monetary 12 months. Pic: PA/Ian West
Prosecutor Ian Hope mentioned a suspended sentence may be thought-about for Edwards.
The previous BBC newsreader will seem in court docket in September.
Edwards was despatched 41 indecent photos of kids between December 2020 and August 2021.
Seven of them have been classed as class A, probably the most critical, whereas 12 have been class B and 22 have been class C.
Prosecutors mentioned there have been two transferring photos of a younger baby, probably aged between seven and 9 years previous among the many class A photos.
The estimated age of a lot of the kids within the photos underneath that class was between 13 and 15, Westminster Magistrates Courtroom was advised.
The pictures have been despatched to Edwards by Alex Williams, 25, from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales.
The Metropolitan Police solely started investigating Edwards after officers unearthed his WhatsApp dialogue with Williams in an “entirely unrelated” probe.
Because of the unique investigation Williams was convicted of seven offences associated to indecent photos and prohibited photos of kids. He was given a suspended 12-month jail sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Courtroom on 15 March.
Philip Evans KC, defending Edwards, mentioned there was no suggestion his consumer had made or created any of the photographs.
What does ‘making’ photos imply?
Based on the Crown Prosecution Service, the time period “making” can embrace opening, accessing, downloading and storing the content material, or receiving a picture through social media, even when unsolicited and even when a part of a bunch.
Class A photos are probably the most critical and embrace penetrative sexual exercise and sexual exercise with an animal or sadism, whereas class B photos contain non-penetrative sexual exercise.
Class C photos don’t depict any sexual exercise.
