During the latest instalment of ITV daytime show Loose Women, the panel discussed Huw Edwards’ sentencing and TV star Coleen Nolan shared her honest thoughts on the disgraced BBC presenter

BBC star Huw Edwards was given a six-month suspended prison sentence earlier this week after admitting to accessing indecent images of children. The 63-year-old former News At Ten presenter was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday (September 16) where the court heard how he paid up to £1,500 to a paedophile for the 41 illegal photos. He was handed a six-month suspended sentence after previously admitting three charges of “making” indecent photographs. Chief Magistrate Paul ­Goldspring also put the disgraced broadcaster on the sex offender register for seven years and he was ordered to attend a sex offender treatment scheme. Following the news that Edwards has avoided prison, people have been left outraged. Speaking about the verdict on Loose Women on Tuesday (September 17), panelist Coleen Nolan confessed that she was deeply shocked.

Huw Edwards was given a six-month suspended prison sentence

She commented: “I was so shocked when it all came out, then the sentence that he got yesterday was just, I was absolutely speechless about it. I thought, well if they can’t use someone, and it was such a high profile case, I thought this is the perfect time now to make an example of this will not be tolerated at all. What message is that putting out to any child abuser or paedophile? It’s absolutely shocking.” Sharing her thoughts, TV star Janet Street-Porter highlighted that Huw Edwards’ mental health was shaky.

Coleen confessed she was shocked over the verdict

Although she agreed with what Coleen had said, Janet added: “At the same time, it’s this idea of making an example of someone. What we’ve seen in the last few weeks is the government quickly changed the law so that the rioters, the people who went mad on our streets in August, were quickly dealt with. “Some of them received custodial sentences for what previously would’ve been a slap on the wrist, a big fine or public service, hundreds of them have received custodial sentences. I’m weighing that against this and I’m thinking at the end of the day, what would be gained by putting Huw Edwards in jail?”

Janet’s comments didn’t go down well with her co-stars

Cutting in host Ruth Langsford told Janet it would bring justice to the victims. Janet added: “Justice for the victims but he would be very vulnerable.” However, it seemed her comments did not go down well with her co-stars as Coleen shouted: “Don’t care! Don’t care, good.” Co-star Brenda Edwards added: “Sorry, but I can’t. The word vulnerable, there are vulnerable children, seven years old being taken advantage of, he’s an adult who a lot of people trusted.” Loose Women continues weekdays on ITV from 12:30pm.