Huw Edwards given six-month suspended jail sentence for child abuse image offences - follow live

Summary

Former BBC News presenter Huw Edwards has been given a suspended six-month sentence for child abuse image offences, meaning he avoids jail
He is also required to complete a sex offender programme, and will be on the sex offenders' register for seven years
In July Edwards admitted having 41 such images which were sent to him on WhatsApp
The sentencing hearing is told Edwards, 63, paid another man, Alex Williams, hundreds of pounds for gifts and presents in exchange for the images
At one point, Williams said he had "naughty" and "young" images, to which Edwards replied: "Go on"
The estimated age of the children in most pictures was between 13 and 15, but one was aged between seven and nine
Edwards' lawyer told the court Edwards is "profoundly sorry" and recognises the "repugnant nature" of the images
After sentencing, the BBC says: "We are appalled by his crimes. He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him"

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Huw Edwards leaves court after sentencing

Live Reporting

Edited by Owen Amos, with Dominic Casciani and Lucy Manning reporting from Westminster Magistrates' Court

Will Edwards be sentenced today?published at 08:11 British Summer Time 16 September
Helena Wilkinson
We’ll need to wait and hear what the Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring says in court once proceedings get under way.
But it all depends on whether he decides he has sufficient powers to sentence Edwards.
In a magistrates’ court an offender can be sentenced up six months in prison, or up to 12 months in total for more than one offence.
If the chief magistrate decides the sentence should be longer than six months, he can send the case to crown court for sentencing.
If that happens it would likely take place at a later date.
Edwards pleaded guilty in Julypublished at 08:09 British Summer Time 16 September
Image source, Julia Quenzler
Edwards is back in Westminster Magistrates' Court today - where, in July, he admitted having 41 indecent images of children, which were sent to him by another man on WhatsApp.
They included seven category A images, the most serious classification.
As the charges were read to him in Westminster Magistrates' Court, he replied "guilty" three times.
Police later revealed the man who sent the images to Edwards was a convicted paedophile.
Huw Edwards due in court for sentencing hearingpublished at 08:04 British Summer Time 16 September
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Edwards pictured outside court in July
Disgraced former BBC News presenter Huw Edwards is due in court this morning, where he could be sentenced for charges involving indecent images of children.
In July, the former newsreader admitted having 41 such images, which were sent to him on WhatsApp.
The estimated age of the children in most of the pictures was between 13 and 15, but one was aged between seven and nine.
He is due in Westminster Magistrates' Court at 10:00 BST. He could be sentenced, or the case could be referred to a higher court.
The possible punishments include up to three years in jail, or he could receive a community order with a condition that he undergoes a sex offender treatment programme.