News

Huw Edwards accused of grooming as young man speaks out

Published

1 year ago

August 3, 2024

THE YOUNG person at the centre of the original allegations against Huw Edwards has now come forward, stating that he feels “groomed” by the broadcaster.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, the young man, who claims he was paid by Edwards to send sexually explicit pictures of himself when he was a teenager, accused the former newsreader of exploiting his vulnerability. The Metropolitan Police, however, found no evidence of criminal behaviour in that matter last year.

This week, the ex-BBC presenter pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children in a separate case.

The story first broke in July last year when The Sun newspaper reported on an unnamed young person’s alleged contact with Edwards. It published a claim by his mother that Edwards—then not publicly named—had paid her child tens of thousands of pounds for explicit photos over three years, beginning when they were 17.

Initially, The Sun referred to the individual as a “young person” without specifying a gender. A few days later, the lawyer representing the young person disputed the mother’s account, saying, “the allegations reported in the Sun newspaper are rubbish” and adding in a letter to the BBC that “nothing inappropriate or unlawful” had occurred.

In his new interview on Saturday, the young man described Edwards as “an A-class manipulator”. He revealed that he had first contacted Edwards, along with other celebrities, on social media when he became homeless. The 62-year-old sent him money before asking if there was anything he would do in return.

“Although it was a friendship at the beginning, it did change. He would say things like, ‘Are you going to do something for me then?’ I needed help, so I did,” he said. “I feel like he sort of fed on my vulnerability… as he knew I needed the money. I felt like I was being groomed.”

The young man claims he sent explicit messages and videos to Edwards, who allegedly sent £35,000 over two years in return. He noted, “Because of who he was as a BBC presenter and because he had such power… I felt like I trusted him and that he cared. But that’s how the manipulation started. I looked up to this man but he didn’t really care about me. I felt like he was taking advantage of me but I felt I had to listen to him because he was Huw Edwards.”

Despite initially staying silent to protect Edwards, the young man said he felt “sick” when he heard the news this week.

The Sun also published a video of Edwards allegedly waiting for the young man at a Welsh train station, filmed by the young man’s stepfather. The stepfather told the newspaper, “I was so angry. I just wanted to confront him and tell him to stop doing what he was doing.”

Edwards was suspended by the BBC in July last year. His wife later publicly named him as the TV presenter at the centre of the allegations. The young man revealed that Edwards texted him from an unknown number last October, a few weeks before his arrest, asking him to download the messaging app Signal to “catch up.”

Edwards has not commented on the claims and resigned from the BBC in April, citing medical advice. On Wednesday, he admitted to possessing 41 indecent images of children, which had been sent to him by another man on WhatsApp. These included seven category A images, the most serious classification, two of which depicted a child aged between seven and nine.

Police later revealed that the man who sent the images to Edwards was a convicted paedophile. Until last year, Edwards was one of the main presenters on BBC One’s News at Ten and often fronted coverage of major national events. He was charged last month and could now face a jail sentence. He will next appear in court on September 16 .

Crime

Teenager charged following rape allegation at Saundersfoot nightclub

Published

2 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Staff Writer

Incident reported at Sands Nightclub in early hours of Sunday

DYFED-POWYS POLICE is investigating an allegation of rape following an incident reported at Sands Nightclub in Saundersfoot in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 14).

An 18-year-old man was arrested after officers were called to the venue, which is a popular late-night spot in the seaside village. The allegation relates to events said to have taken place during the early hours of the morning.

Joshua Probert, aged 18, has since been charged with one count of rape. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Dec 18).

The complainant is entitled to lifelong anonymity under law, and no further details about the allegation can be reported at this stage.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that enquiries are ongoing. Officers are understood to have carried out initial investigative work shortly after the report was made, including speaking to witnesses.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

Anyone affected by sexual assault or rape can contact the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line, run by Rape Crisis England & Wales, on 0808 500 2222. Calls are free and confidential.

Local Government

Mayor visits Milford Haven Library Christmas event

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE MAYOR of Milford Haven, Cllr William Elliott, paid a visit to Milford Haven Library on Tuesday morning to attend its festive Mince Pie and a Cuppa event.

The event brought together library staff and local residents, with the Mayor thanking staff for their work supporting the community throughout the year. During the visit, Cllr Elliott also spent time speaking with residents who had come along to the event or were visiting the library to borrow books.

Milford Haven Library is part of the Pembrokeshire Libraries service, which provides access to books, information, and community activities across the county.

The Mayor wished residents a Merry Christmas at the close of his visit.

Crime

Milford Haven man jailed after drunken attack on partner and police officers

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A MILFORD HAVEN man who launched a violent drunken assault on his partner before attacking two police officers has been jailed for three years and six months.

Alexander Campbell was sentenced on Wednesday (Dec 16) at Swansea Crown Court after admitting causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard that Campbell had been in a relationship with his partner, Miss Cox, for six years. On the night of the offence, he returned home highly intoxicated and became argumentative.

***Alexander Campbell was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court, with the judge describing him as a “cowardly bully.”***

Prosecutor Rieve Nesbitt-Marr told the court that Miss Cox advised Campbell to go upstairs and sleep off the alcohol. Instead, he began poking her and told her not to tell him what to do.

Campbell then launched what Miss Cox described as “a flurry of punches that rained down on her.”

Neighbours contacted police after hearing the disturbance. When officers arrived, they found a smashed bowl on the floor and Miss Cox lying on the sofa under a blanket, covering her face.

Body-worn camera footage played in court showed Campbell threatening officers, telling them: “I will turn this place into a f***ing murder scene.”

As officers attempted to separate the parties, PC Thomas placed her arm out to create distance. Campbell grabbed her wrist with force, an assault captured on body-worn video.

He then attacked PC Jones, climbing on top of him and punching him repeatedly, again recorded on police body-worn footage.

PC Thomas later attended Withybush Hospital, where she received four stitches under local anaesthetic. Miss Cox suffered severe facial bruising, with one eye swollen almost shut.

The court was told that Miss Cox’s ten-year-old daughter was upstairs at the property during the incident.

Campbell has 27 previous offences. In mitigation, the court heard that he accepted alcohol turned him into a different person, telling the court: “I’m an ugly person when I drink. I’m a different person when I’m sober.”

Sentencing Campbell, the judge said he knew better than anyone how alcohol affected him.

“You came home in a bad mood and almost predictively, you assaulted her,” the judge said.
“The noise and aggression was such that the neighbour called the police.”
“You gave her a bruise on her face that can only be described as a large shiner.”
“In short, you have injured three people. Your conduct was utterly pathetic, like an overgrown child.”

The judge also referred to Campbell’s violent history, describing him as a “cowardly bully.”

While acknowledging that Campbell had previously complied well with a suspended sentence after removing his own alcohol tag, the judge said custody was unavoidable.

Campbell was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence.

Warning him about his future, the judge added: “If you carry on with this behaviour you will spend a lifetime in prison. The only person who can change this is you.”

The court also granted a restraining order for five years.