Disgraced BBC presenter Huw Edwards has claimed he might not have faced criminal charges for making indecent images of children if he had not been a "highly visible" public figure, in a Substack post marking the end of his suspended sentence.

Edwards, 65, admitted a charge of "making" indecent images of children and having 41 photographs on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious type. He was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, in September 2024. In his latest Substack post, Edwards started by saying: "Today is the day. Two years have gone by since my sentencing at Westminster Magistrates' Court."

Edwards noted the sentence handed down by the chief magistrate was six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, adding that his period of rehabilitation is "officially over".

In the post, the former BBC News at Ten anchor launched a lengthy attack on the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police. "Indeed, had I not been such a highly visible public figure, I might not have faced any criminal charges," he wrote. "That is not my view, I stress - it is the opinion of some of London's most experienced lawyers, and of former Crown Prosecution Service staff who have made contact with me privately over the past two years."

He accused the authorities of mounting a "headline-grabbing prosecution" driven by a desire for plaudits as they sought to capitalise on his prominent status after nearly four decades on air. "The CPS and the Metropolitan Police are institutions which do not appear to enjoy high levels of public trust and respect. They needed — and continue to need — 'good' headlines," Edwards wrote. "They now have my mental breakdown to thank for providing them with a prime opportunity to pose as fearless fighters for justice."

Edwards said in the post that 1,000 men are arrested every month in the UK in relation to accessing indecent images. "It is not surprising that individuals are hardly ever singled out for attention by the press," he added.

He continued: "I was never involved in online forums, and a forensic examination of my internet history showed that I had never searched for any of this vile material." Edwards, who was paid up to £479,000 per year by the BBC, had shared his views under a post titled "Spent force?", which quoted the Harry Potter author JK Rowling: "Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."

Edwards was best known for presenting the BBC's News At Ten for decades, delivering some of the biggest stories to the public, including Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022. His claims drew a furious response from commentators and victims' advocates, who argued that his prominence had earned him a suspended sentence rather than custody, and that his attempt to recast himself as a victim of his own fame ignored the gravity of his crimes.