THE weak sentencing of Huw Edwards should be reviewed by the government, a Tory MP has urged.
The disgraced newsreader, 63, was spared prison and given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, despite viewing depraved online material.
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Edwards had earlier admitted three counts of making indecent images of children after he was sent 41 illegal pictures, seven of which were Category A – the most serious classification.
But he walked free from Westminster Magistrates’ Court into a chauffeur-driven Mercedes following his hearing on Monday.
The sentencing has given rise to concern over “two-tier justice” in the courts, with experts fearing the slap on the wrist will act as a “green flag” for other paedophiles.
It comes as an investigation by The Sun has identified 27 prosecutions in the past nine months where judges have allowed those trading in sick photos and videos to walk free.
Now Tory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat has today demanded ministers review Huw Edwards’ sentencing decision.
The Shadow Security Minister has written to Attorney General Richard Hermer KC requesting a formal review under the Unduly Lenient Sentences regime.
Mr Tugendhat blasted the courts for slapping Edwards with a sentence “inconsistent with the guidelines set forth by the Sentencing Council for such offences”.
He said: “As a national household name, the country has been shocked by the criminal activities of Mr Edwards.
“I am sure that they will be looking to the government to lead by example and ensure that heinous crimes are punished swiftly and appropriately.
“I urge you to formally review this case under the Unduly Lenient Sentences regime.
“A reassessment would not only address public concern but also reinforce our commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and upholding justice.”
Fellow leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch also blasted Edwards dodging jail as “two tier” justice as she called for an urgent overhaul of sentencing guidelines.
The Tory leadership hopeful said it was “extraordinary” the disgraced BBC presenter walked free on Monday.
Speaking on Never Mind The Ballots, ex-Cabinet Minister Ms Badenoch railed against rich and powerful figures like the shamed newsreader being treated differently.
She said: “I think it’s extraordinary. And I’ve been talking about this with quite a few people.
“And if I did become leader of the opposition, I’d be commissioning a review of sentencing guidelines.
“There’s something that’s not right, there’s something very wrong. And it feels like there is a two-tier system where some people, or some crimes, are looked at differently from much more minor ones, and we don’t want that.
“It does feel like there are certain people who are policed in a way that is a lot more strict for very minor things, and we need to have a faith in our justice system.
“But also a key Conservative principle is equality under the law. It shouldn’t matter whether you have money or you work for the BBC or you’ve been on TV, you should be punished for having committed something as serious as that is it. It is extremely serious.”
The disgraced newsreader had faced a maximum 12 months behind bars for the offences but avoided jail despite admitting to paying the paedophile in the region of £1,500 for child sexual abuse images.
Rotten Justice – The Sun Says
THE astonishing leniency towards Huw Edwards exposes a two-tier justice system which must be rebuilt.
It is not just the suspicion that convicted celebrities get better treatment than ordinary criminals, as if the establishment considers their public disgrace punishment enough.
It is that four out of five paedos, regardless of background, dodge jail for having child abuse pictures as Edwards did.
It is scandalous that a man can be locked away for stealing cherry bakewells but not for viewing images of a small boy being raped.
Each horrific photo the BBC’s top journalist leered over was of an innocent child being sexually abused.
He and other perverts fuel an abhorrent global trade in exploitation.
Is Edwards being sufficiently punished, living freely and in comfort, while attending occasional rehabilitation sessions? Hardly.
And what deterrent is there if paedos are overwhelmingly likely to get just a slap on the wrist over illegal images?
Seven of the images fell under Category A – the most serious classification – and two were said to involve a child aged between seven and nine-years-old.
Kemi Badenoch has blasted Edwards dodging jail as “two tier” justice – and called for an urgent overhaul of sentencing rules.
The Tory leadership hopeful said it was “extraordinary” the disgraced BBC presenter walked free yesterday despite being convicted of making indecent images of kids.
Speaking on Never Mind The Ballots, ex-Cabinet Minister Ms Badenoch railed against rich and powerful figures like the shamed newsreader being treated differently.
She said: “I think it’s extraordinary. And I’ve been talking about this with quite a few people.
“And if I did become leader of the opposition, I’d be commissioning a review of sentencing guidelines.
“There’s something that’s not right, there’s something very wrong. And it feels like there is a two-tier system where some people, or some crimes, are looked at differently from much more minor ones, and we don’t want that.
“It does feel like there are certain people who are policed in a way that is a lot more strict for very minor things, and we need to have a faith in our justice system.”
Yesterday Jim Gamble, the former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command Centre within the National Crime Agency, slammed the sentencing after widespread outrage.
Speaking to Aasmah Mir and Stig Abell he said: “If Edwards came around to your house tonight and said, look, I tell you what, you go on out to the cinema tonight and I’ll look after your young children, would you let him? Because that’s the question.
“You know, if you’re not going to let him babysit for your children, why would you let him engage or look after anyone else’s children? So I think it’s time we woke up to this.
“These aren’t some kind of abstract image. They’re images of children being brutalised and raped.”