Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Catherine Bennett

The lenience of Huw Edwards’s sentence is bad enough, but the explanation is worse

The former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster magistrates’ court for his sentencing hearing on 16 September.
The former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster magistrates’ court for his sentencing hearing on 16 September. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

Considering how often their profession is associated with venality, it seems only fair to record occasions when lawyers go out of their way, entirely unpaid, to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice.

They were generous last week following the result of Rex v Huw Edwards, in explaining, basically, that the public should not get too exercised: his treatment was standard, not two-tier, absolutely in line with the official guidelines, even, one expert suggested, given the number of (known) images, on the high side. The hope being, presumably, that if the public can be made to understand the sentencing process, it can be persuaded to accept the outcome. On this occasion the signs, including in the most liberal spaces, are not promising.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.