Prominent BBC news anchor Huw Edwards has been named as the presenter acing allegations of purchasing sexually explicit images from a minor.
The BBC finally confirmed the identity of the accused presenter after his wife, Vicky Flind provided a statement in response to the troubling revelations.
According to the statement, Edwards, who is notably one of Britain’s top news presenters and was responsible for delivering the news of Queen Elizabeth’s death last September, is currently suffering from significant mental health issues.
This has been attributed to worsening depression that he has been battling for years. As a result, Edwards is currently admitted to a hospital for ongoing care.
While not well known to Australian audiences, Huw Edwards has been a beloved figure for the British public. According to the BBC’s latest annual report, Edwards’ salary exceeded 435,000 pounds ($831,870) in 2022, making him the highest-earning journalist at the corporation.
The Sun newspaper recently published a report alleging Edwards had paid a minor 35,000 pounds ($67,177) over a three-year span for explicit photos, starting when the individual was 17.
The minor’s mother claimed the money contributed to a crack cocaine addiction and alleged she had initially approached the BBC before contacting The Sun. The alleged victim, via a lawyer, later denied these claims.
In a new twist, another young individual, who is not related to the first accuser, came forward with accusations against Edwards. The complainant, in their early 20s, mentioned that they had been in contact with Edwards through a dating app. They claimed to have received threatening, abusive messages when they suggested they might disclose the presenter’s identity, which BBC News confirmed to have been sent from Edwards’ phone number.
The BBC had initially withheld Edwards’ identity, which has since been disclosed following Flind’s statement. She expressed her hopes that her statement would conclude media speculation that had been impacting Edwards’ colleagues at the BBC.
Flind noted that Edwards plans to respond to these allegations once he recovers from his current health crisis.
Despite the severity of the allegations, Metropolitan police concluded their investigation, stating that they found no evidence of Edwards having committed a criminal offence. The police’s decision was reached after liaising with numerous parties, including the BBC, the accuser and their family.
The BBC responded to the police’s statement by expressing their gratitude for the rapid completion of the police investigation. The broadcaster confirmed they will proceed with an internal investigation.
The presenter and his lawyer have yet to respond to the most recent allegations.
SOURCE: ABC News
