Huw Edwards groomed me as a school pupil, man claims

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, Huw Edwards was given a six month suspended jail sentence at Westminster Magistrates鈥 Court in September
  • Author, Nathan Bevan
  • Role, 91热爆 News

A man has accused former news presenter Huw Edwards of attempting to 鈥済room鈥 him when he was 18 and still in school.

Saying he behaved inappropriately towards him, the man - now in his early 20s - said Edwards invited him to the 91热爆鈥檚 London offices when he was a pupil.

He alleged Edwards messaged him offers of help with his career, adding that he now sees them as something more.

A 91热爆 spokesperson said "robust safeguarding policies are in place" regarding site visits and careful consideration would be given to any concerns.

The young man, who requested anonymity, shared with Y Byd ar Bedwar - S4C鈥檚 current affairs programme - a series of messages where Edwards referred to him as 鈥渂abe鈥 and 鈥渂ig boy鈥 and signed off with kisses.

He also says he was invited to the 91热爆鈥檚 London offices by the former News at Ten presenter.

Shortly after he visited the premises he said Edwards cut all contact with him.

"I think it鈥檚 obvious he was grooming me, trying to pull me in," he said.

"I remember him asking me to meet him, then telling me not to worry if I couldn't, which he followed with a few kisses.

鈥淚 look at this now and think, 'He鈥檚 just playing with me'.

鈥淚 feel angry about the way he鈥檚 treated people and because others have had much worse experiences than me.

"It鈥檚 completely disgusting."

After pleading guilty to making indecent images of children, 63-year-old Edwards was given a six month suspended jail sentence at Westminster Magistrates鈥 Court in September.

He had 41 illegal images of children on his phone, including an image of a child approximately aged between seven and nine.

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

"I don鈥檛 know what, but the Huw I know or thought I knew would never do something like that.

"Who in their right mind would do such a thing? There is no justification for it."

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, Edwards, who joined the 91热爆 in 1984, was one of the UK's most high-profile broadcasters

A 91热爆 spokesperson said: "We have been clear that we are appalled by Huw Edwards鈥 crimes.

"He has betrayed not just the 91热爆, but audiences who put their trust in him."

They added that a board-commissioned independent review of the 91热爆鈥檚 workplace culture is under way, focusing on preventing abuse of power and ensuring everyone at the 91热爆 conducts themselves in line with company values.

"The 91热爆 has robust safeguarding policies and processes in place and if people contact us directly with concerns we will look at these carefully, in line with our complaints framework," they added.

's makers made repeated attempts to contact Edwards, but he did not respond to their messages.