Seven of the unlawful pictures had been of essentially the most severe class, prosecutor Ian Hope stated, and each of these movies had been marked as “learn” on WhatsApp. In response to the second video, Edwards requested the person sending them: “Any extra?”
The offence of constructing indecent pictures of youngsters pertains to the pictures that had been despatched to Edwards. Prosecutors didn’t allege Edwards had actually made the pictures in query.
His lawyer Philip Evans stated Edwards was on the time of the offending struggling along with his psychological and bodily well being and he had no reminiscence of truly viewing any explicit pictures.
“He did not use them for any private gratification and he did not achieve any gratification from these indecent pictures,” Evans stated.
Edwards’ was “profoundly sorry”, he added.
“He recognises the repugnant nature of such indecent pictures and the damage that’s carried out to those that seem in such pictures.”
Claire Brinton of the Crown Prosecution Service stated in a press release: “Accessing indecent pictures of youngsters perpetuates the sexual exploitation of them, which has deep, long-lasting trauma for these victims.”
The decide stated that Edwards’ popularity was now “in tatters”, however that the non-public impression on Edwards was “the pure consequence of your behaviour which you introduced on your self”.
A BBC spokesperson stated: “We’re appalled by his crimes. He has betrayed not simply the BBC, however audiences who put their belief in him.”