Fury as it emerges Huw Edwards' 'lenient' sentence can't be reviewed by Attorney General because his case was heard in magistrates court By Matthew Lodge Published: 09:10, 18 September 2024 | Updated: 11:32, 18 September 2024 e-mail 52 View comments The sentence given to disgraced BBC star Huw Edwards cannot be reviewed or increased despite a barrage of complaints calling it too lenient. The former news presenter received a six-month suspended sentence on Monday after pleading guilty to possessing indecent images of children as young as seven. The outcome sparked outrage from campaign groups, who said it was 'ludicrous, absurd and embarrassing' that he was allowed to walk out of court instead of being sent immediately to prison.
Lord Richard Hermer KC, who is the Attorney General and the government's top legal advisor, is understood to have received multiple complaints from members of the public and politicians, including Tory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat, urging him to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. However, current rules mean that Edwards' case cannot be referred to appeal court judges, sparking calls for them to be changed. Huw Edwards, pictured here looking gaunt in his police mugshot, received a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years on Monday The former news presenter, pictured here leaving court after his sentencing on Monday, has pleaded guilty to possessing 41 indecent images of children The former BBC star, pictured here at Westminster Magistr.