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Media Coverage
The story is broadly popular regardless of political leanings or type of media outlet. It is trending on social media in the UK and dominates the front pages – in print and online.
Trending – Huw Edwards spared jail despite being guilty of child sex images
Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has avoided being sent to jail after being found guilty of indecent images of children. The media – online, in print and on social media – has reacted with anger and sadness over the leniency. Many speak to experts and former victims who say the suspended prison sentence sends the wrong message to criminals – that sex crimes against children aren’t taken seriously.
Most of the media pour over the news of the light punishment and question just why his sentence is so soft, with the answer to that question dependent on the lens the paper looks through.
Edwards was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years after he admitted charges of making indecent images of children.
Basic facts
- Huw Edwards has received a 6-month suspended sentence and is to be put on the sex offenders register for seven years
- He was found guilty of three counts of making indecent images of children
- The images were sent to Edwards by convicted paedophile, Alex Williams
- The public has expressed outrage over Edwards’s soft sentence
The reaction
The in-print and online media are united in their reactions to the soft sentence. Almost all the headlines express the feeling that Huw Edwards has ‘got away with his crimes.’ The headlines use words such as ‘appalling’ and ‘sickening’ and note the ‘fury’ of the public.
Some of the right-leaning media look into the BBC, which has come under huge criticism for their handling of Huw Edwards and the complaints that had been made against him before any of this came to light. Many of these papers feel there had been an attempted ‘cover-up’ from the broadcaster.
Another right-leaning talking point – this one more prominent on social media – discusses why Huw Edwards was handed a soft punishment whilst people making comments on social media are being arrested and sentenced. A lot of this discussion revolves around the far-right riots in England at the end of July in which those online who were spreading misinformation or racism have faced prison sentences.
Related Stories
Trending on social media
Huw Edwards – and his light sentence – are the No 1 trend across UK social media. On Twitter/X a narrative is emerging over Edwards’ light sentence and the role of the BBC in a suspected ‘cover-up.’ Comparisons between Edwards’ sentence and the sentences faced by people during England’s far-right riots are also being drawn.
Read the Tweets!
So, one guy gets jailed for trying to tip a police van over during the riots while a pedophile evades jail even though he had 7 of the most serious pictures of kids
— Big Virg 💪 (@s1xtimes) September 16, 2024
Make it make sense ffs!!#HuwEdwardsSentencing pic.twitter.com/wHPldUi4rB
Huw Edwards gets to keep his pension & BBC payout from us the tax payer. He’s also not going to jail.
— Aron 🇪🇺 (@aronpaul8778) September 16, 2024
Mental health isn’t the reason he had rapey pictures of 7yr old kids, he’s a sick fucking nonce. #HuwEdwards #HuwEdwardsSentencing
I spoke to Channel 4 re #HuwEdwards when he plead guilty of his crimes.
— **Chris Tuck MAAT ACMA CGMA** (@ChrisTuck_WWHF) September 17, 2024
He has now been given a 6 month suspended sentence for 2 years.
Where is the justice?
Have a listen 👇 to my interview.#ActOnIICSA let's better protect children 🙏 surely we can do better?
In fact… pic.twitter.com/1vALkd7YTX