The ex-BBC presenter was sentenced in the case of possession of child pornography

Hugh Edwards was sentenced in the case of possession of child pornography

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A London court sentenced former BBC presenter Hugh Edwards, 63, who was previously accused of keeping indecent images of children.

The man was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years after he pleaded guilty.

As informs The Guardian, this means he will avoid prison unless he commits further crimes or violates conditions imposed by a judge.

Edwards, who worked for the BBC for four decades, was told during the trial that he was “perhaps the best-known broadcaster and journalist in the UK” but that his “long-earned reputation has been destroyed”.

His six-month sentence will be suspended for two years. The man will be required to undergo a 40-day recidivism prevention program.

The investigation found that from December 2020 to August 2021, Edwards corresponded on WhatsApp with a man who sent him 377 photos of a sexual nature, more than 40 of which were indecent images of children.

The judge said he took into account the fact that Edwards had no recollection of viewing the indecent images due to mental health issues at the time of the offences.

At the trial it became known that Hugh Edwards suffered from depression and other mental disorders. In December 2023, he was diagnosed with arteriosclerosis, a heart condition that affected his mood.

In addition, the testimony of a psychosexual therapist was heard in the courtroom. He said that there was a “significant risk” of the presenter’s suicide, as Edwards, who is currently undergoing inpatient treatment at a private psychiatric clinic in London, “believes that the situation in his family could improve if he were not.”

A BBC spokesman said the staff was appalled by Edwards’ crimes and “he betrayed not only the BBC but the audience that trusted him”.