Defending the indefensible: We need to talk about children’s safety
Huw Edwards, former BBC News presenter, has been given a suspended prison term after he admitted making indecent images of children. However, Gillian Ashcroft, owner of 10 care homes, claims justice hasn’t been served.
On Monday 16th September at Westminster Magistrates Court Huw Edwards was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for accessing indecent photos and videos of children, some aged as young as seven. Back in July, the former face of the BBC admitted to three charges of ‘making’ indecent photographs after convicted paedophile Alex Williams sent him 41 illegal images via WhatsApp.
At the hearing, chief magistrate, District Judge Pail Goldspring outlined the mitigating factors he was considering when sentencing Edwards, which included his mental state, and concluded that the former broadcaster’s remorse was genuine and that his mental health at the time of the offences could have impacted his decision-making.
However, the judge added that any financial or reputational repercussions that will spawn from the case ‘was the natural consequence of your behaviour which you have brought on yourself.’
He added: ‘I am clear of the view that you do not present a risk or danger to the public at large, specifically to children. There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.’
The latter statement has since sparked outrage among many childcare experts, one being Gillian Ashcroft, who owns multiple children’s homes in the North West for vulnerable kids.
Ashcroft said: ‘How can it be a defence for him to say he didn’t remember viewing these indecent images? If he’s mentally ill, is there a case for him to be sectioned? How can the chief magistrate determine that he’s not a threat if he has episodes of being unaware of his actions?’
‘There are many unanswered questions that ned answering and are in the public interest,’ Ashcroft continued. ‘These individuals, especially those who are in the media spotlight, must be made accountable for their actions. If there’s no real justice for these sorts of crimes, it gives a green light for other potential offenders to do the same thing because they know they won’t go to jail.’
Another problem Ashcroft has flagged with Edwards’ case is money. Allegedly, Edwards was the BBC’s highest paid journalist and when he was arrested last November he was asked to repay £200,000. However, it is understood that discussions are ‘under way’ about the BBC clawing back the money, but it is yet to be repaid.
Ashcroft said: ‘If the BBC get the £200,000 back, what are they going to do with it? This is tax-payers money. I believe it should be donated to charities that support the abuse of children.’
On the topic of finances, BBC Boss Tim Davie addressed the Edwards scandal during a keynote speech at a television conference on Tuesday 17th September. He said: ‘We want the money back and we’ve asked for it back, and we’re waiting to hear back.’
Steering away from the subject of money, Mr Davie claimed the victims families remain the ‘primary concern’ and that staff at the BBC are enraged by the whole situation.
He said: ‘We’re just shocked, and there’s a lot of upset because across the BBC, we’ve got great teams, good people and they feel deeply, deeply let down.’
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