The young man at the centre of the Huw Edwards scandal has spoken publicly for the first time, saying he felt the veteran BBC newsreader took advantage of his vulnerability. The man, now 21, told the Mirror that he was a troubled teenager when Edwards first contacted him, and that he now believes he was groomed.
He described being in a 'very troubled state of mind' when he messaged Edwards after seeing him on television in a Cardiff burger bar. Sleeping on friends' sofas and having spent nights in a homeless shelter, he had reached out to famous people for help. Edwards was the only one who replied, sending £500 via PayPal, which he said went towards hotel costs.
However, the relationship soon turned sexual. The man said Edwards would ask, 'Are you going to do something for me then?' and that he complied because he needed the money. Over two years, payments totalling up to £35,000 were made, with one message accompanying a deposit reading 'Be Loyal.' The man admitted sending explicit images and videos, but insisted he was not selling pictures, rather accepting money from someone he trusted.
He told the Mirror that Edwards 'fed on my vulnerability' and that he felt manipulated because of the presenter's power and status. He said he looked up to him but now feels sick at what happened. The scandal emerged last summer when the man's mother found messages and went to the BBC, and later to the Sun newspaper claiming her son was being taken advantage of.
Edwards was suspended by the BBC the day after the Sun's article and was later named publicly, with his wife revealing his identity. The young man initially defended Edwards, but says his feelings changed after police contacted him about the charges against the broadcaster over indecent images of children. He now regrets protecting Edwards, saying he wants to tell the truth about what happened.
