Disgraced Huw Edwards is represented by an influential London law firm whose slogan is “Shelter from the storm.”

Huw Edwards is represented by an influential London law firm whose slogan is “Protection in the storm”.

The disgraced BBC News presenter appointed BCL Solicitors to represent him as he was today sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

The company is based in Lincoln's Inn Fields and describes itself as a “first-class” company specialising in Economic crime, data, privacy and cybersecurity law.

Ellen Peart, partner, and Kate Chanter, senior associate, worked on Edwards' criminal defence, BCL confirmed to Law Gazette.

Ms Peart stood next to Edwards as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court today with a rolling suitcase.

She is head of the firm's serious and general crime department and in February represented Tory MP Bob Stewart in his successful appeal against a conviction for racially motivated disorder.

Ellen Peart is head of the firm's serious and general crime department and in February represented Tory MP Bob Stewart in his successful appeal against a conviction for racially motivated disorder.

Kate Chanter is a Senior Associate and returned to BCL in July last year after two years working as a lawyer on complex cases in the Court of Appeal.

It was the “gentle and unflappable” defence lawyer Philip Evans KC of the law firm QEB Hollis Whiteman who presented Edwards' defence to the judges.

The MP for Beckenham had told activist Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei to “go back to Bahrain” during an argument outside the Foreign Office's Lancaster House on December 14, 2022.

But in February a judge ruled thatAlthough the words spoken by Mr Stewart amounted to abuse, they did not cause Mr Alwadaei any annoyance, distress or distress.

Ms. Peart is on Spear's 500 Most Recommended Criminal Lawyers list, and a biography on BCL's website states: “Ellen Peart is described as a 'secret weapon' who 'instills absolute confidence in her clients' and is a 'phenomenal team player.'”

“She is highly recommended for her competent representation of prominent clients, especially those accused of serious sexual and violent crimes.”

Ms Chanter is a Senior Associate and returned to BCL in July last year after working for two years as a lawyer on complex cases in the Court of Appeal.

During her time there, she was one of two lawyers tasked with coordinating the 2022 Special Life Sentence Tribunal, which decided the sentences of four offenders convicted of murder and manslaughter.

This included the much-publicized case of Sarah Everard’s murderer, Wayne Couzens.

The Nottingham Trent University graduate's biography on the law firm's website states that in her criminal defence practice she represents individuals in a wide range of crimes, from minor disorderly conduct and assault to fraud and serious sexual offences.

Today it was lawyer Philip Evans KC from the law firm QEB Hollis Whiteman who presented Edwards' defence to the judges.

The “smooth and composed” Mr Evans is described on the firm’s website as “an intelligent, competitive and analytical lawyer who is equally at home as both a prosecutor and a defender.”

A forensic artist's drawing of Edwards as he sat in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court today

The 63-year-old looked emaciated as he walked past a crowd of media from all over the world today

Alex Williams, 25, shared indecent images with Edwards which led to the news anchor's downfall. Williams is pictured here as a teenager on a family trip to a Welsh beauty spot

“He is tactically very clever and sees the bigger picture in complicated cases with multiple parties. His defense is calm and convincing and his cross-examinations are forensic. He is a top candidate,” it says.

In his defence today, Edwards said the disgraced news anchor was “genuinely sorry” and was aware of the “repulsive nature” of the images sent to him.

He claimed that alcohol consumption and his declining mental health played a role in the sick WhatsApp chats with convicted paedophile Alex Williams, in which 41 images were sent to Edwards.

Edwards described some of the disgusting photos sent to him as “amazing” and replied “What do you need?” when the paedophile asked for a “Christmas present after all the hot videos”.

Mr Evans claimed that Edwards made no payments to Alex Williams to obtain indecent images of children.

He told the court: “Mr Edwards made no payments for images to be sent to him and he certainly made no payments for indecent images to be sent to him.”

“Mr Edwards specifically asked Mr Williams not to send any images of minors.

“He did not store any of these images on any device. He did not use them for his personal gratification and he did not derive any satisfaction from these indecent images.”

“He did not forward them to anyone else and he has never searched for similar images from any source before and he has not searched for similar images from any other source since.”

Mr Evans said Edwards was “genuinely sorry” for “causing harm to his family and loved ones” and committing these offences.

He told the court: “He knows he has harmed his family and loved ones.”

“He is sincerely sorry for all of this and is sincerely sorry for having committed these crimes.”

“He has lost his reputation. He has lost his reputation in a very public way. This is, we respectfully note, a matter of some importance and we know that the court will not underestimate the impact this will have had on him.

The disgraced former news anchor was flanked by members of his legal team

He made no comment as he entered the modern courthouse

Edwards was previously the presenter of News at Ten and one of Britain's best-known newsreaders.

“He has not worked since he left the BBC.”

Mr Evans continued: “You will have appreciated, Sir, that the press has been exceptional in covering this matter and Mr Edwards wishes to apologise to the court through me. He wishes the court to know through me how deeply sorry he is. He recognises the repulsive nature of such indecent images and the pain caused to those who appear in such images.

“He sincerely apologizes for his part and makes it clear that he deeply regrets this and recognizes that he has abused the invaluable trust and faith of so many people.

“He knows he has hurt and harmed his family and loved ones, and he is truly sorry for all of that, and he is truly sorry for committing these crimes.”