HUW Edwards was THE face of the BBC — a man who comforted and held the nation’s hand as we mourned the loss of the Queen.
It was hard to comprehend that, two years later, Edwards was in the dock being sentenced for the most despicable of crimes.
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An air of sadness hung over the court at the fall of such a broadcasting titan and the traditionally boisterous cameramen were distinctly muted.
But there could be no sympathy for Edwards himself because of what he had done.
The mask of reassurance and dignity which looked out from our screens had been lifted — exposing a sordid and pathetic creep of a man.
We learned more details yesterday about Edwards and his offending and it was uncomfortable listening in court.
The description of images he viewed was hard to stomach.
But it was the jolly nature of the conversations between Edwards and his accomplice Alex Williams, in the context of discussing such depraved material, which made my flesh crawl.
The offer by Williams of obscene images showing a young child suffering was greeted by Edwards affirmatively with kisses in a message.
They wished each a merry Christmas just after Williams had sent another Category A video of a young boy being sexually abused.
Abhorrent conduct, yet carried out in the most casual manner.
The court decided that Edwards is not a risk to children and can be rehabilitated in the community with protections in place.
And for many crimes I might have agreed.
But not for someone who has watched children being sadistically abused — and is therefore responsible for continuing that suffering.
Edwards should have gone to jail — if only for a few months as a deterrent and a punishment truly fitting the crime.