Ex BBC presenter Huw Edwards paid £1,500 for images and videos he branded “amazing”, including one of a child aged between seven and nine
Image: PA)
Paedophile Jac Davies, who was linked to the indecent images investigation into disgraced BBC presenter Huw Edwards, has been spared jail at Leeds Magistrates’ Court.
His defence team argued magistrates should consider “parity” with the broadcaster’s suspended sentence. Davies, 25, was given a sentence of 12 months, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to possession of indecent images of children and possession of Class A drugs.
Leeds Magistrates’ Court was told on Tuesday that Davies was investigated after South Wales Police discovered he was found to have been involved in the sharing of images with Alex Williams.
Prosecutor Michelle Kruger said: “South Wales Police had been dealing with Alex Williams. As part of the investigation into that individual, this defendant was found to have been involved in indecent images being shared.
“Also involved… was a link between Alex Williams and Huw Edwards, the BBC News presenter. Both Williams and Mr Huw Edwards have been dealt with by the courts, and Huw Edwards, who you will be aware of, received a suspended sentence for the indecent images he was involved in.”
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BBC)Davies’ defence lawyer Stewart Page told the court: “I think it’s incumbent upon me to mention that you also need to consider parity on sentence. You are aware of a certain individual who was sentenced a number of months ago – he too had no previous convictions.
“The offences that that individual appeared before the court were similar to what Mr Davies appears, and of course you are aware, because the prosecutor outlined this, that a suspended sentence was imposed on that case.”
In September, Edwards escaped with a suspended sentence. The ex-BBC presenter, 63, paid £1,500 for images and videos he branded “amazing”, including one of a child aged between seven and nine.
A judge deemed Edwards, who is a father of five, "did not pose a risk to the public" and so suspended the six-month term. After which, one charity claimed the country is "in the grip of a hidden pandemic" of sexual abuse cases and exploitation of children online.
In October, the BBC launched a review into its work culture after a series of scandals including the disgraced newsreader.
It's being led by Grahame Russell, head of Change Associates, and is expected to report next spring. BBC chairman Samir Shah said: “I cannot emphasise enough that I am fully committed to tackling inappropriate or abusive behaviour. What is clear to me is that we must ensure the BBC is a safe, secure and welcoming workplace for everyone.”
Director-general Tim Davie admitted the BBC’s reputation had been harmed by Edwards, who was given a suspended sentence for accessing indecent images of children as young as seven.
Elsewhere, in the wake of Edwards' offence, a top crime boss said more paedophiles should be jailed. Graeme Biggar, the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) boss, called on a crackdown of the predators, despite Huw Edwards escaping with a suspended sentence in September.
Mr Biggar has supported calls for tougher punishments for those guilty of the sick crimes, like the making indecent images of children charge for which Edwards was sentenced. Mr Biggar said: "It is not just the viewing of images that is causing harm. This is creating a market for and sometimes directly encouraging people to sexually abuse and rape children and video themselves doing it. So it does need to be taken really seriously."
Pressure is growing on the Government to review sentencing guidelines for those guilty of child sexual abuse charges. New statistics show 80 per cent of those convicted of possessing indecent images of children avoid prison.
Responding to this data, Mr Biggar told The Sun: "They get community or suspended sentences — that does not feel right to me. That issue has got a lot more publicity as a result of a particularly prominent BBC individual but it’s a longstanding challenge." He said the NCA feels not enough is done to protect the public as it stands.
Jail sentences are often only handed out when the offender has also been convicted of more serious charges such as making contact with a minor. Yet, recent data from the NSPCC shows that online grooming crimes have reached record levels with 7,000 offences of sexual communication with a child recorded by police last year.
Estimates show that up to 830,000 UK adults — 1.6 per cent of the population — pose a threat to children. Last month Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the Government would be undertaking an independent sentencing review.
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