The convicted paedophile who sent indecent images of children to veteran BBC newsreader Huw Edwards has been identified as a 25-year-old man from Wales. Alex Williams, of Merthyr Tydfil, forwarded 41 illegal images to Edwards, including seven of the most serious type, category A. He pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing category A, B, and C images, as well as possessing prohibited images of children, and received a 12-month suspended sentence.
Williams sent the majority of the images during a two-month period, with most being shared over two days in December 2020 and the final image sent in August 2021. One of the images was a category A video featuring a young boy. He was arrested in August 2022 and charged in December 2023 after an investigation by South Wales Police.
Despite his conviction, Williams’ family claimed they were unaware of his crimes. His parents, who have not seen him for months, denied knowledge of his sexual offences. Williams, who had been working in a management position in Cardiff after graduating from university, has since gone into hiding following the revelation of his messages to Edwards.
Huw Edwards, who pleaded guilty to receiving the indecent images, will be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 September. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years, but his barrister is requesting a suspended sentence. The case has shed light on the importance of cybersecurity and the dangers of online communication, especially when it comes to protecting children from exploitation. It serves as a reminder that vigilance and accountability are crucial in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from harm.
