Pictured: Sex offender who sent Huw Edwards indecent images

Alex Williams
Alex Williams, pictured at his university graduation a couple of years ago

The child sex offender who shared indecent images of children with Huw Edwards has been pictured.

Alex Williams was photographed at his university graduation in Cardiff a couple of years ago, shortly before police began investigating his use of indecent images.

On Thursday, his family spoke of their shock, telling The Telegraph they had no idea that he had been charged and convicted of child sex abuse offences.

Williams was convicted of seven counts of distributing and possessing indecent images, including one charge of possessing prohibited images of children.

In March this year, Williams was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years. Three weeks later, Edwards resigned from the BBC, bringing his 40-year career with the broadcaster to an end.

Alex Williams
In March this year, Alex Williams was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years

Other photographs of Williams show him celebrating the graduation of one of his siblings and climbing Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, with his mother.

Two female members of Williams’ extended family who were contacted by The Telegraph said said they were not informed about his offences.

One said she rarely saw Williams and spoke to him only fleetingly, adding: “I’ve known Alex for 15 years. He was always very quiet. I thought it was because of his studies and that was the kind of person he was.”

The two said they would now refuse to allow Williams to set foot in their homes, with one adding: “The whole thing is shocking. Really shocking. It’s just horrible to think about what he was doing.”

Staff at the giant DIY store on the edge of Cardiff where Williams has worked for the past two years were stunned when told of his conviction.

“We had absolutely no idea,” said one member of staff. “I’ve worked with him all this time and he was as good as good. I would never have thought that of him.”

WIlliams was not at the store on Thursday and is understood to have left his shift early on Wednesday – the day Huw Edwards appeared in court in London – following what was described as “urgent reasons”.

“We don’t know what that was about but I guess now it was to do with this Huw Edwards stuff that is all over the news,” said one of his colleagues.

Another staffer said: “I can’t believe it of him. He seemed a bit odd, but I just thought that could have been anything. It’s the last thing I would have imagined.”

A store manager quickly asked the Telegraph to leave when approached for comment.