Has also exited to court with his legal team and we are told that the magistrate should be backin that the magistrate should be back in the court at around 12 30pm with his decision. Over the last 20 minutes or so we heard the defence say that Mr Edwards switches to apologise, he wishes to coach a know how profoundly sorry he is. He says he recognises the repugnant nature of such images aren� t a heart that is done to those who appear in such images. For his part in that he apologise sincerely and makes it clear he has the utmost regret. This is significant because it puts forward her remarks how remorseful Mr Edwards is for his crimes. As barrister is using that as a mitigating factor. We have 30 has mental and physical health problems. We have been hurt that he has been struggling for the last few years. Mr edwards� s mental Health Battle has been in the Public Domain. He has spoken about it while he was anchoring the ten o� clock news. This is significant because we have some timings conveyed in court with regard to when his troubles really started over the last few years. His barrister said the offence and can be linked to the grave situation of Mr Edwards� s Mental Health. He said the key period of offending was in late 2020 when his Mental Health had deteriorated. He began receiving treatment for ill health in 2019 and that was interrupted by the pandemic in 2020. We also know that his barrister was challenging whether his client needs to be subjected to sexual harm prevention order. He emphasised in court that his good Character and the fact that he is has not offended since the period in question was a strong mitigating factor. As i said, his barrister has put forward his barrister has put forward his argument, the prosecution has put forward players. We know that a custodial sentence is a possibility, if we look at the sentencing guidelines we know that the magistrate is not scenting this case to the crown of the ten sentence cannot exceed 12 months in prison because that is as far as the magistrate can go. It could be a suspended sentence. Alex williams, the man who sent the images, was given a suspended sentence for 12 months. It could be a Community Order or presenting edwards on a prevention order, a Sex Offender course, to help him become a different person, if you like, after the crimes he has committed. There has been some talks of concerns of him reoffending, something the prosecution said they were worried about. A Probation Report said there was a medium risk of him reoffending, but thatis risk of him reoffending, but that is something his defence lawyers are saying is not true, send their experts say he had a very low risk of reoffending. We should find out what the sentence should be at around 12 30pm. The magistrate will want some Sentencing Remarks to begin with, and then deliver his sentence. Begin with, and then deliver his sentence. This is the live shot of that his sentence. This is the live shot of that building his sentence. This is the live shot of that Building Right i shot of that Building Right now. We are hearing that the Chief Magistrate has returned to court. We should hear soon him outline the sentencing that he is going to hand down to a few edwards along with all of the remarks that he feels are necessary. As a reminder, in a magistrates� Court And Offender can be sentenced to six months in prison or up to 12 months in totalfor one offence. Any in prison or up to 12 months in total for one offence. Any more than that it would have to go up than that it would have to go up to the crown court. That is something that the Chief Magistrate decided against. Sent Think Huw edawrds is just one option that the Chief Magistrate can consider. Sima kotecha is back in position and we can speak to her. We were told to expect the sentencing at around 12 30pm so hopefully we won� t have too much longer to wait. We wont have too much longer to wait. ~. , we wont have too much longer to wait. ~. ,. , to wait. We have ust heard the Chief Magistrate to wait. We have just heard the Chief Magistrate is to wait. We have just heard the Chief Magistrate is back to wait. We have just heard the Chief Magistrate is back in Chief Magistrate is back in court and will deliver the sentence imminently. We understand Huw Edawrds is listening to the judge, sorry, the magistrate, as he sentences him. We are waiting for those details imminently. Just a reminder of what he is facing. He was sent hundreds of explicit images over a 16 month period, 41 of them included children, seven of them were a team to be of an extreme sexual nature. The Chief Magistrate has just become the sentencing and, as alljudges do, is outlining the facts of the offences and noting details about the Character of the defendant. He said you were perhaps the most recognised Newsreader And Journalist in the uk. It is not an exaggeration to say that your reputation is in tatters. She Huw Edawrds is leaning forward listening to the Chief Magistrate. His hands are clasped in front of his mouth as he listens. It is new and arrestment patient it is not to underestimate to say this is a huge fall from grace. We anchored the ten o� clock news, the Election Programme, taking over from the Election Programme, taking overfrom David Dimbleby in 2019, and now he is a convicted Sex Offender awaiting his punishment. He was sent a lot of explicit images, seven of them were deemed to be Category A. Them were deemed to be category a, the most severe type of images involving children. Two of the images involve the child between the ages of seven and nine. Today we have heard a lot about his Mental Health for both the Prosecution Barristers and the Defence Barristers, saying he struggled with Mental Health for a long time. The mitigating factors outlined his barristers is that this is a first time offence, he hasn� t committed a crime ever since these crimes and that he asked Alex Williams, the 25 year old, to stop sending him pictures of underage boys. Those factors have been put forward by his team. They are hoping that this will lessen the sentencing. His team are hoping for a non custodial sentence, but there is a possibility that he could get a prison sentence. Other options include a Community Order or being sent on a Sex Offender course. The sentencing has begun and, as alljudges and sometimes magistrates to their outlining the facts of the offences and noting details about the defendant� s Character. We are being told that the Chief Magistrate accepts that the evidence confirms, thanks to his Mental Disorder at the time of the offending, that edwards has no memories of which are fairly of the images he has viewed. He did not keep them and she did not send them onto anyone else, the magistrate has said. I accept that your dishes with your Mental Health. The that you received sexual gratification from the images is difficult to assess. We are hearing some of the comments made by the Chief Magistrate as he sentences 63 year old Huw Edawrds. He says edwards has no memories which, if any of the images, he viewed. He did not keep them or send them on. I accept that you had issues with your Mental Health. The degree that you receive sexual gratification from the images is difficult to assess. We heard this Back Injuly when Hugh Edwards pleaded guilty, we heard his defence saying very much the same and that on two occasions he had asked Alex Williams not to send him pictures of underage boys it seems that his team has emphasised this in court today. The prosecution has said that the Probation Service has said he has a medium risk of reoffending, something that his team saying the opposite, they said that he has a low risk of offending according to the experts that they had been speaking to, so it will be interesting to see what the Chief Magistrate says about that. We are waiting for more details from the sentencing which is taking place. Mr edwards, 63 year old pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of Children Injuly and he� s now sitting in court wearing a navy blue cardigan i am told that he his head in his hands, his answer sometimes clasped in front of his mouth as he listens his elbows propped on his thigh it is an interesting process for anyone who does not sit in on these cases very often to understand the process here. figs often to understand the process here. � ,. , often to understand the process here. � ,. Often to understand the process here. A. , here. As you are saying, the magistrate here. As you are saying, the magistrate goes here. As you are saying, the magistrate goes through here. As you are saying, Thej Magistrate goes through the facts of the case and it means that we won� t get the sentencing until The End of these remarks but it is important for the public� S Understanding of how the justices of the book a Justice System works that explanation is given and we will hopefully understand how he has reached the sentence that he will impose upon Hugh Edwards. We were hearing all sorts of mitigation from the Defence And Prosecution barriers throughout the morning, looking at factors such as Huw Edawrds health. We have heard many times he was suffering from depression. Also hearing that the magistrate accepts that Huw Edawrds has no memory of receiving these images that he was looking at. Huw edawrds has been outside the court all morning watching and waiting along with the rest of the media and there is a big presence there, such as the interest in this case, and that being referenced by the Chief Magistrate. Being referenced by the Chief Magistrate magistrate. Yes, thats right he has accepted magistrate. Yes, thats right he has accepted that magistrate. Yes, thats right he has accepted that huw. He has accepted that Huw Edawrds did not remember viewing those images that Alex Williams sent him over a 16 month period. He said she did not keep those images or send them onto anyone else. I accept that you had issues with your Mental Health. The degree that you sexual gratification from the images is difficult to assess. That argument was made injuly by his barristers. We know that Huw Edawrds had asked Alex Williams not to send him pictures of underage kids and i think that is why his barristers have used that as a mitigating factor. The prosecution are saying that he could pose a threat and have cited a Probation Service report saying that perhaps he does pose a medium threat to children, something that his team are saying is a very low risk. There is some contrasting between the two sides are saying. As you said, the Chief Magistrate will be considering lots of facts here. Injuly he asked for details between now and then, about his health, his physical health, about Huw Edawrds the person, his motivation in regards to viewing those images, and all of that will play in Him Sentencing him today. I have alsojust sentencing him today. I have also just been told that the Chief Magistrate said that as psychosexual therapist, an expert in the case had concluded that edwards had been in a perfect storm at the time of reoffending. He had turned to online relationships amid a very difficult period in his life the expert told the court in a report that edward had a risk of taking his own life and it� s a complex individual thanks to psychological factors in his childhood, including his relationship with his father. We learn about the difficult relationship he had with his father and the fact that the Chief Magistrate has taken that into account as well, so he has office to Tears History to assess what impact that could have had all his crimes. A reminder he was sent hundreds of images, expressed explicit images by Alex Williams over a 16 month period. Alex williams was given a 12 month suspended sentence for sending those images. We also know that prosecutors in july asked the Chief Magistrate to consider a suspended sentence for Huw Edawrds. We have also been told that this expert has shown. Huw edawrds has shown Shame And Remorse from his actions, says the experts. Emphasising the fact that his barrister said, that he is remorsefulfor fact that his barrister said, that he is remorseful for his actions and is deeply sorry for what he did. That being pushed by his barristers as a strong mitigating factor, along with Mental Health problems and physical health problems, all of which is team spoke about backin of which is team spoke about Back Injuly when he pleaded guilty to those three offences. There was also discussion this morning about the nature of rehabilitation and how great the risk is of some sort of relapse and an acknowledgement that this is often made worse when someone is isolated and we knew Huw Edawrds� s life has changed immeasurably as a consequence of his actions and his choices. It consequence of his actions and his Chem Consequence of his actions and his choices his choices. It is no underestimate his choices. It is no underestimate to l his choices. It is no l underestimate to say his choices. It is no underestimate to say that his choices. It is no underestimate to say that this is a massive fall from grace this man was front and centre of the Bbc News at ten, he anchored the programme for years and took over from David Dimbleby to present the Election Programme in 2019. He was the biggest figure of Bbc News and today he is a convicted Sex Offender who is awaiting his punishment. As the magistrate has also said, his reputation is in tatters. This is a very difficult period for both him and his barrister acknowledges for his family and the people that he loves. We are now waiting to hear what his fate is, what is sentencing is. I� m hearing that there is some stuff about his relationship with his Family Thatis Relationship with his family that is being spoken about. Just to reiterate, the Chief Magistrate said that as psychosexual therapist had concluded that edwards had been in a perfect storm at the time of offending. He had turned to online relationships amid a very difficult period in his life. I� m hearing from my colleagues in court that Mr Edwards is looking emotional as he sits in the dock and listens and thejudges talking he sits in the dock and listens and the judges talking about medical reports that he is at risk of taking his own life and he remains concerned about the impact on his family. Huw edawrds has five children and a wife he no longer lives with. His barristers had made clear that he is very worried about the impact of all of this on his family and the people he loves. We also know he has an elderly mother he is very close to. Lots about his Mental Health around the proceedings this morning and how he has been struggling with his Mental Health for a while. The prosecution are still arguing that he could pose a medium Level Threat to young people. His barrister saying they think the threat is at a very low level, according to the experts they have been speaking to. We will ust they have been speaking to. We willjust pose there and recap. We have been following this case all morning. We saw Huw Edawrds, the former Bbc Presenter, arriving at westminster magistrates� court for the sentencing hearing this morning. This is in relation to Child Abuse image offences. We will recall that at the same court in july will recall that at the same court injuly Huw Edawrds admitted having 41 such images of Child Abuse, seven of them were of the most extreme type and two of them detected a child aged between seven and nine. The code has been hearing that Huw Edawrds paid another man, Alex Williams, hundreds of pounds of gifts and presents in exchange for these images. We also heard the prosecution talking through some of the exchanges on whatsapp messages that were shared between edwards and williams. Some of the comments that were made between them. William said he had naughty and young images and edwards replied, go on. It is 31 point say he did not want to receive anything that was illegal. They were communicating, though, between 2011 and 2022. It wasn� t covered the extent of their communications when police found the Whatsapp Chat on alex william� s phone in relation to another case. We were hearing that when few edwards arrived in court this morning he was faced with cameras and photographers, a huge amount of press interest, because of the profile that she air bridges to enjoy at the bbc, being its most senior News Presenter and the Face And Voice of many moments of the nation coming together on state occasions. They asked him, do you have an apology to give . Are you sorry for your crimes . Apology to give . Are you sorry foryour crimes . He apology to give . Are you sorry for your crimes . He did apology to give . Are you sorry foryour crimes . He did not apology to give . Are you sorry for your crimes . He did not say anything at that point but we heard through the course of these proceedings, thanks to our colleagues, that Huw Edawrds� s lower told the court that he is profoundly sorry and recognises the repugnant nature of the images. We now know that the Chief Magistrate, Paul Coldspring, is delivering his Sentencing Remarks. He retired about an Hour Sentencing remarks. He retired aboutan hourago, Sentencing Remarks. He retired about an hour ago, then re emerged about 15 minutes ago to begin giving those remarks. It is a useful process for all of us to hear how he has come to his conclusion, having heard a lot of arguments from the Defence And Prosecution barristers in terms of mitigation to do with Huw Edawrds� s health, Mental Health and physical health, and that he was a previously good Character. So Paul Coldspring is working through his thinking and explaining how he has come to the sentencing, which we will hear at The End of those remarks. Let� s go back to Sima Kotecha, he is outside westminster magistrates� court. Eachissue westminster magistrates� court. Each issue so we have heard this morning how much there is to take into consideration when handing down a sentence like this for something so serious. The Chief Magistrate asked for additional information back in july when Huw Edawrds pleaded guilty to those three counts of making indecent images of children. He asked for more details about his Mental Health, his physical health, about his motivation, his Character. About his motivation, his Character. �. ,. , Character. All of that will be taken into Character. All of that will be taken into account Character. All of that will be taken into account when Character. All of that will be taken into account when he | taken into account when he passes his sentence imminently. We have heard from the prosecution and defence, both making their arguments clear in regards to how they see Huw Edawrds, do they feel he presents a danger . The prosecution says it is a medium risk, his defence as it is incredibly low. We have heard about how he has struggled with his Mental Health over the years. That has been in the Public Domain for a long time. It is something he discussed openly, he talked about his boxing and how it helped him to deal with his Mental Health. We heard how his Mental Health was deteriorating at the time he was being sent these images. His barrister is trying to put forward as much mitigation as possible. We heard a very significant i� m sorry from Huw Edawrds where he conveyed his apologies to the families, to his family, who he said he loved very much. He said he had understood at a cost a lot of harm to the people he loved. And also to the victims involved in this heinous crime. We are now hearing that the Chief Magistrate is now turning to the precise nature of the sentence based on the harm that Huw Edawrds caused. He says that the Starting Point is a sentence that goes from 26 weeks up to three years in custody. He said that the fact the pictures were moving images when aggregating aggravating factor. We knew that two of these images involve the child between seven and nine. Turning to mitigation, the magistrate notes that edwards has no previous convictions, received voluntarily stopped receiving the images, and have a Mental Disorder. He would be vulnerable in prison, he says. We are waiting to hear what the actual sentences. We hear that the Chief Magistrate is making his Sentencing Remarks now and in just a his Sentencing Remarks now and injust a moment i envisaged that a sentence would be handed down to the 63 year old, now a convicted Sex Offender, waiting for his fate, and waiting to hear whether he will spend the next few days, weeks, months behind bars or not. Behind bars or not. Sima kotecha. Behind bars or not. Sima kotecha, thank behind bars or not. Sima kotecha, thank you behind bars or not. Sima kotecha, thank you very| behind bars or not. Sima kotecha, thank you very much. We arejoined by kotecha, thank you very much. We are joined by the former editor of the Sunday Mirror newspaper and a media commentator. He was sharing your thoughts on the kind of sentence you are expected to see handed down. What are your thoughts having heard all of the mitigation that has been coming from the court during this morning . I coming from the court during this morning . This morning . I dont think there is going this morning . I dont think there is going to this morning . I dont think there is going to be this morning . I dont think there is going to be an there is going to be an incarceration sentence. There may well be a prison sentence, but it will be suspended. What is interesting i think in particular is even on a day when we have had an Assassination Attempt again on Donald Trump, Keir Starmer and italy on a crucial immigration meeting, this is going to be a huge, huge story a Cost Broadcasting and the newspapers tomorrow morning. There will be a debate on the suitability of the sentence. A debate on the suitability of the sentence. The sentence. Paul, im so sor , the sentence. Paul, im so sorry. I the sentence. Paul, im so sorry. I have the sentence. Paul, im so sorry, i have to the sentence. Paul, im so sorry, i have to interrupt the sentence. Paul, im so. Sorry, i have to interrupt you. We have to go back to Sima Kotecha. We have to go back to Sima Kotecha we have to go back to Sima Kotecha. ~. ,. , kotecha. We have ust heard the sentence. Huw kotecha. We have just heard the sentence. Huw edawrds kotecha. We have just heard the sentence. Huw edawrds has kotecha. We have just heard the| sentence. Huw edawrds has been given a six month suspended sentence for two years. Six Months Jail Sentence suspended for two years with our requirements to complete a Sex Offender programme, Plus 25 sessions. He has been given a suspended sentence for two years, meaning he will go to prison but if you reoffend during that time he will go to jail. Let me reiterate that, Huw Edawrds has been given a six Month Jail suspended for two Years Sentence with a requirement to complete a Sex Offender programme, Plus 25 sessions. ~. , offender programme, Plus 25 sessions. ~. , sessions. We are ust getting that sentence sessions. We are just getting that sentence coming sessions. We are just getting that sentence coming into i sessions. We are just getting | that sentence coming into us. Sessions. We are just getting i that sentence coming into us. A six month Jail Sentence suspended for two years. We are just hearing that the Chief Magistrate has handed down that sentence and he must also undertake a Sex Offender rehabilitation, 25 sessions in total. There� s been a lot of discussion this morning over whether he is a good candidate for that and how well he has been responding to therapy. The Chief Magistrate turned to the precise nature of the sentence, saying a good Starting Point that goes from 26 weeks up to three years in custody, and he has decided that that should be at the lower end of that. As sixth Month Jail term, suspended for two years. Let� s speak again to paul, and media commentator. We are seeing this Police Photograph of the first time. It is a suspended Jail Sentence, as you expected. Yes, indeed. I think sentence, as you expected. Yes, indeed. I think there sentence, as you expected. Yes, indeed. I think there will sentence, as you expected. Yes, indeed. I think there will be indeed. I think there will be quite a debate both online, imprints, as to whether that is the right sentence. Some amazing things came out this morning that we didn� t know. Forfouryears this morning that we didn� t know. Forfour years the know. For four years the contract know. Forfour years the contract existed between contact existed between Alex Williams and Hugh Edwards. Huw edawrds. Throughout the time, this mental turmoil that the defence made much mitigation of. Paul, i� m so, so sorry. We will come back to you for more analysis, and you know how these things work. Thank you very much for talking to us. Much more on this Breaking Story and the sentence just handed down at westminster magistrates� court to Huw Edawrds, the former Bbc Presenter. Police have released this picture of the former presenter after he was charged. Westminster magistrates� court heard this morning he paid hundreds of pounds to a convicted paedophile after being sent pornographic images. His barrister said Huw Edwards is truly sorry and knows he� s betrayed people� s Trust And Faith. Yes, after a morning yes, aftera morning in yes, after a morning in court, over the last few moments, we have just heard 63 year old Huw Edwards has been given a six month Jail Sentence, suspended for two years, with the requirement to complete a Sex Offender programme. We with the requirement to complete a Sex Offender programme. With the requirement to complete a Sex Offender programme. We will have more details Sex Offender programme. We will have more details from Sex Offender programme. We will have more details from the Sex Offender programme. We will have more details from the court Sex Offender programme. We will have more details from the court the more details from the court the programme. Also on the programme this lunchtime. Police in Florida Question a man named as 58 year old Ryan Routh who� s suspected of trying to assassinate Donald Trump on a golf course. Sir Keir Starmer meets the italian Prime Minister hoping to learn lessons from how italy has dramatically reduced the number of migrants arriving there. Baby reindeer and the british tv drama Baby Reindeer steals the show at the Emmy Awards in los angeles. And coming up on Bbc News glasgow stands by for the next commonwealth games. The scottish city is set to be announced as the 2026 posts, stepping in for australia. Good afternoon. In the last few minutes, the former Bbc Presenter Huw Edwards has been given a six month suspended prison sentence, after he admitted making indecent images of children as young as seven. Westminster magistrates� court heard this morning how he gave hundreds of pounds to a convicted paedophile after being sent pornographic images. His Defence Barrister said Huw Edwards is truly sorry and the Chief Magistrate told him his reputation is in tatters. Our senior Uk Correspondent Sima Kotecha is outside court. Sima. After a busy morning in court, we have heard from both the prosecution and the defence regarding Huw Edwards, what is significant is the profound apology that was put forward by his legal team. Let me read it to you. Philip Evans Casey told the court Mr Edwards wishes to apologise. He wishes the court to know how profoundly sorry he is. He recognises the repugnant nature of such images and the hurt he has done to those who appear in such images. He recognises he has betrayed the priceless Trust And Faith of so many people. We know that the 63 year old received hundreds of indecent images, 41 of them were of children. Seven of them of an extreme sexual nature and two of them were of a child between the ages of seven and nine. But today, he has shown how remorseful he is. It is something the Chief Magistrate took into account when sentencing him. We are still hearing comments from the magistrate. In the last minute or so he told edwards, he concluded the Custody Threshold had been crossed. He said the appropriate sentence would be 12 months for the most severe abuse images but taking into account the mitigation and early guilty plea, the sentence would be six months, suspended for two years. We also heard that edwards will be placed on the Sex Offender register for seven years, meaning he has to notify the police of his whereabouts. A massive fall from grace for somebody who was the face of Bbc News, now a convicted Sex Offender who has been given a suspended prison sentence. Thank you ve much suspended prison sentence. Thank you very much indeed. Suspended prison sentence. Thank you very much indeed. We suspended prison sentence. Thank you very much indeed. We will suspended prison sentence. Thank you very much indeed. We will be suspended prison sentence. Thank you very much indeed. We will be back very much indeed. We will be back with you in a moment. Let� s get more details on the background to the case with our correspondent helen wilkinson. This is Huw Edwards� custody image taken after his arrest, police moments after he was sentenced. A far cry from the polished and highly respected Bbc Newsreader he once was. Earlier, he arrived at court to face his sentence. No answer as he went into questions about whether he wanted to apologise for his crimes. In court, though, through his lawyer, he did say sorry for what he said were truly repugnant images and the hurt done. He listened as the prosecutor laid out the distressing details. Huw edwards was sent hundreds of images by another man, 41 of them were indecent images of children. On one occasion, the man askedif children. On one occasion, the man asked if Huw Edwards wanted more images of young people. He replied, go on. Another time, images of young people. He replied, go on. Anothertime, he images of young people. He replied, go on. Another time, he said, amazing. Go on. Another time, he said, amazing go on. Another time, he said, amazinu. ,. , 11 11 . ,. Amazing. Tonight at 10,000 of police officers. Amazing. Tonight at 10,000 of police officers up amazing. Tonight at 10,000 of police officers. Up until amazing. Tonight at 10,000 of police officers. Up until last amazing. Tonight at 10,000 of police officers. Up until last year, amazing. Tonight at 10,000 of police officers. Up until last year, huw officers. Up until last year, Huw Edwards was officers. Up until last year, Huw Edwards was the officers. Up until last year, Huw Edwards was the most officers. Up until last year, huwl edwards was the most highprofile edwards was the most high profile and presented the ten o� clock news, as news, as well as election and royal coverage. As news, as well as election and royal coverage. Bbc television is broadcasting royal coverage. Bbc television is broadcasting their royal coverage. Bbc television is broadcasting their special broadcasting their special programme, reporting the death of her majesty the queen. Huw edwards was suspended from the bbc lastjuly. The the sun published a story about sordid pictures bought. He was later named as that presenter. Huw edwards was then arrested over the possession of other images unrelated to the original allegations. Other images unrelated to the originalallegations. In other images unrelated to the original allegations. In april, other images unrelated to the originalallegations. In april, he resigned from the bbc. Two months later, he was charged with making indecent images of children. Then in july, Huw Edwards appeared in court and pleaded guilty. The victims of Huw Edwards� crimes were children. Behind every image is a vulnerable child that has been violated, that has been subject to abuse and the continuing distribution of those images only goes to service that demand. Huw edwards has been sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. It is a huge fall from grace for a man who was
comparemela.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.