BBC asks Huw Edwards to return salary following child abuse image charges

nme.com:

BBC has asked Huw Edwards to return his salary following his recent charges relating to images of child abuse.Edwards, 62, pleaded guilty in court last month (July 31) to three charges of making indecent photographs of children.

He admitted to having 41 illegal images, which were sent to him by the convicted paedophile Alex Williams – seven of which being of the most serious type.

Two are reported to show a child aged between about seven and nine.The BBC later said it was “shocked” by the news and clarified that he would have been fired if he had been charged before leaving the corporation three months ago. “There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected,” it added.Edwards could now face a jail sentence, and will next appear in court on September 16.The broadcaster was first suspected by the BBC last July and an investigation was held after allegations emerged of sexual misconduct.

Police found no evidence of criminal conduct on those allegations.In April, Edwards resigned from the BBC following “medical advice”.