BBC Asks Its Highest-Paid News Anchor To Return Salary Paid Since Sex-Offence Arrest

London: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has asked its former news anchor Huw Edwards to return the salary he received after his arrest in November, adding he had not been up front about the charges.

Edwards, who pleaded guilty last month to making indecent pictures of children, was BBC’s highest-paid journalist and top news presenter until he quit in April, as he received a yearly remuneration of 479,999 pounds ($611,758), Reuters reported.

Edwards had been off BBC’s roster since July following allegations he had paid a young person for sexually explicit photos, something which was unconnected to the criminal charges.

The BBC board, which is funded by a fee paid by television viewers, said it had authorised the broadcaster’s management to seek the return of the salary Edwards had been paid between the time of his arrest and his resignation — around 200,000 pounds.

“Edwards pleaded guilty to an appalling crime. Had he been up front when asked by the BBC about his arrest, we would never have continued to pay him public money. He has clearly undermined trust in the BBC and brought us into disrepute,” the board said on Friday.

BBC said previously it was aware of the arrest but not the severity of charges against Edwards.