FORMER BBC journalist Huw Edwards has been spared jail after admitting accessing indecent images of children as young as seven.
It comes after more than a year of headlines about the veteran broadcaster, who was the corporation’s highest-paid newsreader, which began when he was named anchor at the center of a scandal over paying a young person for sexually explicit images.
Here’s a timeline of how the events unfolded:
in 2023
May 19
The family of the person, who was 17 when Edwards allegedly began making the payments back in 2020, are complaining to the BBC and are becoming frustrated when the presenter stays on air.
July 6
The Sun is contacting the BBC, via the Corporate Press Office, about the allegations they are about to publish.
July 8
BBC presenters have decided to publicly clear their names, including Gary Lineker, Jeremy Vine and Rylan Clark.
July 9
The BBC said in a statement that they had suspended the presenter from all duties and had contacted the Metropolitan Police about the allegations.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “The Met received initial contact from the BBC in relation to this case, but no formal referral or charge has been made.”
The Sun reports that the anchor allegedly called the young person twice and asked them to call their mother to “stop the investigation” after the Sun exclusive was published.
July 10
The BBC’s corporate investigations team is meeting with the city’s police.
The corporation is being asked to cease its investigations into the allegations.
A lawyer representing the young person at the center of the controversy says the claims in the “inappropriate article” are “rubbish”.
July 11
BBC director-general Tim Davie faces the media at a scheduled briefing after the corporation’s annual report is published and says he has asked Leigh Tavaziva, chief operating officer of the BBC Group, to assess whether its protocols and procedures are appropriate in light of the case.
The BBC reports that another person felt threatened by the messages she received from the presenter.
July 12
Huw Edwards’ wife names him as the host at the center of the scandal.
She says that he “suffers from serious mental problems” and is “under hospital care”.
The Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police say the presenter has not committed a crime and neither police are taking any further action in relation to the allegations at this time.
The BBC says it will continue its “fact-finding investigation” to ensure “due process and a thorough assessment of the facts, while continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved”.
BBC Newsnight reports new claims from one current and one former BBC employee, who said they received “inappropriate messages” from Edwards, “some late at night and signed with kisses”.
July 13
The Lords’ Communications Committee has announced that Mr Davie will be questioned in Parliament about the corporation’s leadership following the furore.
July 18
The acting chairman of the BBC, Dame Elan Closs Stephens, tells the Communications and Digital Advertising Committee that the corporation’s board met twice to discuss the allegations, originally made on the front page of The Sun on July 8.
November 8
Edwards was arrested in connection with alleged indecent images of children shared on a WhatsApp chat. The arrest is not made public until July 2024.
The presenter remains suspended but remains on the BBC payroll.
in 2024
February 27
The BBC is apologizing to the family of the young person at the center of Edwards’ wrath.
The report, commissioned in the wake of the scandal, found a need for “greater consistency” in the way complaints are handled at the corporation.
April 22
Edwards is resigning, leaving the BBC “on the medical advice of his doctors”, according to the corporation.
In an interview with The Sun, the mother of the young person at the center of the scandal says their family is “still suffering” and “still have so many questions” following the BBC news presenter’s resignation.
June 26
Edwards has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children for the offences, which allegedly took place between December 2020 and April 2022, following a Met Police investigation.
July 23
It has been revealed that Edwards was paid more than £475,000 by the BBC last year before he quit and left the corporation.
July 29
It was revealed that Edwards was arrested in November 2023 and charged with making indecent images of children in June.
According to the indictment, Edwards is accused of having six category A images, 12 category B images and 19 category C photos on WhatsApp.
July 31
Edwards pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and admitted to having 41 on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious.
The BBC says it was aware of Edwards’ arrest for accessing indecent images of children in November but continued with him until April.
The corporation is also issuing an internal memo to staff, co-signed by Mr Davie, BBC News & Current Affairs chief executive Deborah Turness and Ms Tavaziva, saying they are “appalled”.
The Metropolitan Police say the man who shared indecent images of children with Edwards was 25-year-old convicted pedophile Alex Williams.
August 1st
Whistleblowers are critical of the internal investigation into Edwards’ conduct following their discussion with the corporation’s investigative team.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is holding urgent talks with Mr Davie and is asking the BBC to see if it can recoup money from Edwards’ salary.
Mr Davie says the corporation will “consider all options” in trying to recover wages from Edwards.
Mr Davie confirms he knew Edwards was arrested in November for the most serious category of indecent images of children.
August 2
An episode of Doctor Who featuring Edwards’ voice has been temporarily removed from BBC iPlayer to allow replays.
The corporation says Edwards resigned from the broadcaster “without notice or financial settlement” during a confidential disciplinary process.
August 3
The teenager at the center of allegations that Edwards paid for sex photos said he felt “groomed” by the broadcaster and “sickened” after learning he was accused of child sex crimes.
August 7
It has been revealed that the BBC will keep the Bafta it won for royal coverage led by Edwards, while the individual gongs awarded to the disgraced journalist are still being considered.
August 8
Edwards was stripped of his membership in the prestigious Gorsedd of the Bards Welsh arts association.
August 9
BBC chairman Samir Shah called Edwards a “villain” who “acted in bad faith”, taking “hundreds of thousands of pounds of license fee money” in an email to BBC colleagues.
It has been revealed that Edwards has resigned from two honorary posts at his former university in Wales.
September 10
Mr Shah admits Edwards “damaged” the corporation’s reputation while being questioned by the House of Lords Communications and Digital Affairs Committee.
September 16
Edwards appears at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a sentencing hearing and was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education