Former BBC presenter Hugh Edwards has been accused of taking indecent images of children.
Veteran presenter Edwards, 62, who resigned from the BBC after 40 years in April, faces three charges relating to alleged activity between December 2020 and April 2022.
Police said the crimes were linked to images shared on WhatsApp.
Edwards will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning. the sun Reports.
The star was arrested last November by London police and charged with the crimes on Wednesday, June 26.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Hugh Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.”
The crimes, which allegedly took place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared via a WhatsApp conversation.
Edwards was arrested on 8 November 2023. He was charged on Wednesday 26 June following permission from the Crown Prosecution Service.
He was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 31.
“We strongly remind the media and the public that this is an active case.
“Nothing should be published, including on social media, that would negatively impact future court proceedings.”
The penalty for these crimes can be imprisonment for up to 10 years.
The Ministry of Justice guidelines state that the definition of a “child” is anyone under the age of 18.
Edwards, a father of five, resigned from the BBC three months ago after a glittering career spanning nearly 40 years.
The company announced the resignation of its star presenter in a short statement released on April 22.
“Hugh Edwards has resigned and left the BBC,” the statement read.
“After 40 years of service, Hugh explained that his decision was made on good advice. The BBC has accepted his resignation.”
Last week, the BBC’s annual pay report revealed that former News at Ten presenter Edwards was the corporation’s third-highest-paid star from April 2023 to March 2024.
He earned between £475,000 and £479,000 during that period – his salary was only bettered by Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball.
Born in Bridgend in 1961, Welshman Edwards was raised in a village near Llanelli by his father, Hywel – a professor of Welsh literature – and his mother, Irona, a teacher.
After a short spell in radio in Swansea, he joined the BBC as a news trainee in 1984 before becoming the BBC’s parliamentary correspondent in Wales two years later.
Edwards was the host of the 6 O’Clock News from 1994 to 2003.
In January 2003, he became the main presenter of the 10 o’clock news programme on BBC One.
As one of the BBC’s most experienced and respected broadcasters, he has been assigned to cover government events as well as election coverage for the BBC.
The award-winning broadcaster covered the BBC’s funerals of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Edwards, who was previously the corporation’s highest-paid news reporter, was the main presenter for King Charles’s coronation at Westminster Abbey last May on the BBC.
More than 13 million people watched Edwards on BBC One as he spoke to the nation about the coronation of Charles and Queen Camilla.
Edwards also hosted Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding in Windsor in May 2018 for the BBC.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “Hugh Edwards, 62, of south-west London, has been charged with three offences of making indecent images of children.
The Crown Prosecution Service has issued permission to charge following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
Mr Edwards will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 31 July 2024.
“We remind everyone that the proceedings are ongoing, and the accused has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there are no reports, comments or exchanges of information online that would in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
– This story first appeared in the sun It is reproduced with permission.
