Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat has urged Attorney General to review the “lenient” sentence of Huw Edwards for receiving child sex abuse images.
The disgraced broadcaster was handed a suspended prison sentence on Monday.
In a letter issued Tuesday, Shadow Security Minister Tugendhat asked Attorney General to reassess the ruling under the Unduly Lenient Sentences (ULS) regime.
BBC presenter Edwards, who walked free from court on Monday, admitted accessing indecent images of children as young as seven.
The punishment of a suspended prison sentence handed to the 63-year-old has prompted some to question whether it was appropriate for his crimes and whether he should be behind bars, including the mother of a teenager who first blew the whistle on Edwards’ behaviour.
The mother of the teen in the first case told The Sun newspaper: “I’m devastated Edwards hasn’t gone to prison for the things he did.
“He’s exploited young children for his own sick ends and should have been jailed.”
On a post to X on Wednesday, Tugendhat revealed he asked the Government to “address public concern” over the ruling, though Edwards’ case would not qualify under Unduly Lenient Sentence.
The Victims’ Commissioner for London pointed out that the Huw Edwards sentence cannot be reviewed under the ULS Scheme as it’s only applicable for certain Crown Court sentences.
Despite Edwards not being covered by the scheme, having been sentenced in Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Mr Tugendhat called for Lord Hermer to review his sentence under ULS, saying it was “crucial that sentences serve as a deterrent and reflect the serious nature of these crimes”.
The Tory leadership contender wrote: “As the Shadow security minister, it is my duty to ensure that justice is served in a manner that reflects the severity of the crimes committed, particularly those involving the possession of indecent images of children.”
“The sentence handed to Mr. Edwards appears to be inconsistent with the guidelines set forth by the Sentencing Council for such offences. According to these guidelines, the recommended sentence for possessing Category A indecent images of children is a custodial sentence.”
He added that an appropriate sentence should be determined upon consideration of various factors, including the nature and volume of images, the offender’s role in distribution and any previous convictions.
“I am sure that [the country] will be looking to the Government to lead by example and ensure the heinous crimes are punished swiftly and appropriately,” the MP said.
Huw Edwards won’t be going to jail for possession of indecent images of children.
— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) September 18, 2024
I have written to the government to ask them to review this judgement.
Justice should be served in a manner that reflects the severity of the crime. pic.twitter.com/gN4fGFpc4b
The Government has previously expressed reluctance to interfere with sentences passed by the courts, with Sir Keir Starmer telling reporters he was “shocked and appalled” by the case but the sentence was “for the court to decide, having looked at all the available evidence”.
