Edwards, who was the BBC’s highest-paid journalist, sent £1,500 to Alex Williams, a convicted paedophile, after receiving 41 indecent images of children via WhatsApp.
Westminster magistrates’ court heard how the married father of five told Williams to “go on” when asked whether he wanted “naughty pics and vids” of someone described as “young”.
The court heard that of the 41 indecent images viewed by Edwards, the majority of the children were aged between 13 and 15. But in one video sent to the BBC star, the child being abused was aged between seven and nine.
Commenting on the case, Sir Keir Starmer said he was “shocked and appalled”.
He refused to be drawn on the sentence, saying it was a matter for the court to decide.
‘Sentence sends wrong message’
A BBC spokesman said: “We are appalled by his crimes. He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him.”
The sentence for accessing indecent images of children as young as seven sparked claims that it sent the wrong message to offenders that they could avoid prison even if they had committed serious offences.
Miriam Cates, the former Tory MP and online campaigner, said: “As we have seen in recent weeks, courts are not afraid in principle to issue custodial sentences for online crimes.
“But the creation and sharing of child sexual abuse material is still seen too often as a ‘victimless crime’.”
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, added: “This is not a good look for our criminal justice system when we have recently seen offenders get custodial sentences for unpleasant things said on social media.
“It is no wonder the public have lost faith in our institutions. Something doesn’t feel right.”