Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has arrived at court charged with making indecent images of children.
The 62-year-old, who is alleged to have committed the three offences between December 2020 and April 2022, entered Westminster magistrates court in central London before 9.30am on Wednesday.
The veteran broadcaster is accused of having had 37 photographs on WhatsApp, including six of the most serious type.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said he was arrested in November last year and charged on June 26.
According to the charge sheet, Edwards is accused of having six category A images, 12 category B pictures and 19 category C photographs on WhatsApp – offences contrary to sections 1(1)(a) and 6 of the Protection of Children Act 1978.
The images are alleged to have been shared via WhatsApp.
If found guilty, he could receive a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Edwards was one of the BBC’s most prominent and highest-paid news anchors before he left the corporation in April on medical grounds.
During his career, he fronted BBC’s News At Ten for 20 years and anchored coverage of major national events including announcing Queen Elizabeth II’s death on the BBC and presenting coverage of her funeral.
He was previously the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader, with a pay bracket of £475,000 to £479,999 for the year 2023/24 for 160 presenting days, BBC One news specials, election specials and other television programming, according to the corporation’s latest annual report.