Huw Edwards groomed me as a school pupil, man claims

A man has accused erstwhile quality presenter Huw Edwards of attempting to “groom” him erstwhile helium was 18 and inactive successful school.

Saying helium behaved inappropriately towards him, the antheral - present successful his aboriginal 20s - said Edwards invited him to the BBC’s London offices erstwhile helium was a pupil.

He alleged Edwards messaged him offers of assistance with his career, adding that helium present sees them arsenic thing more.

A BBC spokesperson said "robust safeguarding policies are successful place" regarding tract visits and cautious information would beryllium fixed to immoderate concerns.

The young man, who requested anonymity, shared with Y Byd ar Bedwar - S4C’s existent affairs programme - a bid of messages wherever Edwards referred to him arsenic “babe” and “big boy” and signed disconnected with kisses.

He besides says helium was invited to the BBC’s London offices by the erstwhile News astatine Ten presenter.

Shortly aft helium visited the premises helium said Edwards chopped each interaction with him.

"I deliberation it’s evident helium was grooming me, trying to propulsion maine in," helium said.

"I retrieve him asking maine to conscionable him, past telling maine not to interest if I couldn't, which helium followed with a fewer kisses.

“I look astatine this present and think, 'He’s conscionable playing with me'.

“I consciousness aggravated astir the mode he’s treated radical and due to the fact that others person had overmuch worse experiences than me.

"It’s wholly disgusting."

After pleading blameworthy to making indecent images of children, 63-year-old Edwards was fixed a six period suspended jailhouse sentence astatine Westminster Magistrates’ Court successful September.

He had 41 amerciable images of children connected his phone, including an representation of a kid astir aged betwixt 7 and nine.

Journalist and presenter Beti George, who has worked regularly with Edwards, said: "Something has happened to Huw.

"I don’t cognize what, but the Huw I cognize oregon thought I knew would ne'er bash thing similar that.

"Who successful their close caput would bash specified a thing? There is nary justification for it."

A BBC spokesperson said: "We person been wide that we are appalled by Huw Edwards’ crimes.

"He has betrayed not conscionable the BBC, but audiences who enactment their spot successful him."

They added that a board-commissioned autarkic reappraisal of the BBC’s workplace civilization is nether way, focusing connected preventing maltreatment of powerfulness and ensuring everyone astatine the BBC conducts themselves successful enactment with institution values.

"The BBC has robust safeguarding policies and processes successful spot and if radical interaction america straight with concerns we volition look astatine these carefully, successful enactment with our complaints framework," they added.

Y Byd ar Bedwar's makers made repeated attempts to interaction Edwards, but helium did not respond to their messages.