Paedophile who sent Huw Edwards child sex images revealed

A picture of the man who sent indecent images of children to ex-BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been revealed for the first time.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed yesterday that the 25-year-old convicted paedophile was named Alex Williams.

An image of him has now been shared for the first time.

The Met Police said Williams, of Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales, pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing category A, B and C images as well as possessing prohibited images of children.

Williams was convicted of seven offences – receiving a 12-month suspended sentence on March 15.

The images Williams shared with Edwards on WhatsApp came to light during an unrelated investigation by South Wales Police.

According to MailOnline, Williams has ‘gone into hiding’, with his parents confirming to the publication that he no longer lives with them.

They also denied having knowledge that he was a sex offender, and claimed to be unaware that he was convicted of child pornography offences earlier this year.

His parents claimed to now have seen him for three or four months, though the publication claims neighbours said they saw him in the street within the last few weeks.

His mother also claimed to have no knowledge of a connection between Edwards and Williams.

Former BBC presenter Edwards’ –  was previously the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader – case was then passed to the Metropolitan Police, who arrested the veteran TV presenter in November last year, and charged him in June.

On Tuesday, Edwards admitted three charges of ‘making’ indecent photographs after receiving the images from Williams.

He committed the three offences between December 2020 and April 2021.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told seven of the indecent images shared with the veteran broadcaster by Williams were of the most serious type.

The final indecent image was sent in August 2021, a category A film featuring a young boy, with the convicted paedophile telling the newsreader the child was ‘quite young looking’ and that he had more images which were illegal.

Edwards told him not to send any illegal images, the court was told.

No more were sent, and the pair continued to exchange legal pornographic images until April 2022.

Speaking in Edwards’ defence, his barrister Philip Evans KC said in court on Tuesday: ‘There’s no suggestion in this case that Mr Edwards has… in the traditional sense of the word, created any image of any sort.

‘It is important also to remember for context that devices, Mr Edwards’ devices, have been seized, have been searched, and there’s nothing in those devices.

‘It is only the images that are the subject of the charges that came via a WhatsApp chat.

‘Mr Edwards did not keep any images, did not send any to anyone else and did not and has not sought similar images from anywhere else.’

Mr Evans KC also said the broadcaster had ‘both mental and physical’ health issues.

He told the court: ‘It is obvious to the court, I’m sure, that Mr Edwards was not just of good character, but of exceptional character.’

Mr Evans said the court was aware of issues with Edwards’ health – ‘both mental and physical’.

Prosecuting Ian Hope told the court that a suspended sentence might be considered for Edwards.

Setting out the potential penalties under the law, he said that where there is the prospect of rehabilitation a community order and sexual offender treatment programme could be considered as alternatives to a custodial sentence.

Edwards was bailed and will next appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 16.