Huw Edwards‘ standing on the BBC was so lofty one star was warned to not be too humorous or intelligent in entrance of him, in keeping with a former colleague.
The company’s Tradition and Media Editor, Katie Razzall, has revealed recommendation she was given when she began working at BBC Information three years in the past.
Ms Razzall shared the obvious perception into Edwards’ character in an opinion piece printed by the BBC earlier than the disgraced former presenter was spared jail after admitting accessing indecent pictures of kids as younger as seven.
She mentioned a colleague had suggested her: “‘You could be humorous’, they mentioned. ‘However don’t be funnier than Huw. You could be intelligent, however don’t be too intelligent’.”
The BBC‘s tradition editor defined that discovery of the previous presenter’s guilt had “rocked” folks within the newsroom “to their core”, with one employees member talking of “feeling sick”.
After Edwards was sentenced on Monday (September 16), a spokesperson for the BBC mentioned: “We’re appalled by his crimes. He has betrayed not simply the BBC, however audiences who put their belief in him.”
Edwards, 63, had beforehand admitted three costs of “making” indecent images after he was despatched 41 unlawful pictures by convicted paedophile Alex Williams over WhatsApp.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom, Edwards held his palms collectively and leaned ahead all through his sentencing listening to.
The court docket heard Edwards paid Williams lots of of kilos after he despatched him pornographic pictures, however his defence barrister Philip Evans KC mentioned the previous presenter didn’t make funds to Williams so as to obtain indecent pictures of kids.
The prosecution mentioned Williams requested Edwards for a “Christmas present in spite of everything the recent movies”.
Mr Evans mentioned Edwards “recognises he has betrayed the priceless belief and religion of so many individuals”, including his consumer was “actually sorry” for the way he had “broken his household and his family members” in addition to for committing the offences.
A psychiatrist’s report, referenced by the choose in his sentencing remarks, concluded Edwards was at “appreciable danger of hurt from others” and the chance of taking his personal life was “excessive and vital” if he was imprisoned.
In a separate report, a psychosexual therapist mentioned: “The emotions of being fascinating and unseen alongside Mr Edwards’ unresolved sexual orientation created an ideal storm the place he engaged in sexual infidelities and have become susceptible to folks blackmailing him.”
Sentencing Edwards, Chief Justice of the Peace Paul Goldspring informed the broadcaster: “Maybe it doesn’t want saying however you’re of earlier good character.”
The choose mentioned he accepted Edwards had been of “exemplary” good character “having loved a really profitable profession within the media”.
He continued: “It is apparent that till now you had been very extremely regarded by the general public.” Mr Goldspring added Edwards was “maybe essentially the most recognised newsreader-journalist” and it was “not an exaggeration” to say his “long-earned fame is in tatters”.
Edwards’ fall from grace was triggered when the mom of a younger man blew the whistle on their relationship. The teen on the centre of the scandal had initially needed to guard Edwards.
However he informed the Mirror Edwards “type of fed” on his “vulnerability”. It was the person’s mom blowing the whistle on Edwards which sparked a series of occasions which led to his pleading responsible in July to creating indecent pictures.
The person informed the Mirror: “I really feel like he type of ate up my vulnerability as he knew I wanted the cash – I felt like I used to be being groomed.”
Now completely happy and in a brand new relationship, the lad informed the identical publication he felt like he trusted Edwards and that he cared, including: “However that’s how the manipulation began. I seemed as much as this man however he didn’t care about me. He was taking benefit however I felt I needed to hearken to him as a result of he was Huw Edwards.”
Edwards can be topic to 25 rehabilitation periods and be positioned on the intercourse offender remedy programme for 40 days. He was additionally ordered to pay £3,000 in prosecution prices and was informed he could be placed on the intercourse offenders’ register for seven years.
The choose declined to make a sexual hurt prevention order towards Edwards.