The teenage boy at the centre of the Huw Edwards scandal was lured into his ‘perverted web’ by the paedophile who sent vile videos to the BBC newsreader.

Edwards, 64, was sent 41 indecent images of children by Alex Williams, 41, in exchange for cash gifts, which saw the former BBC star receive a six-month suspended jail sentence.

The vile picture collection included seven category A images, the most serious classification, with two involving a child aged around seven to nine. 

It had been assumed that Williams was not connected to previous reports about Edwards paying a teenager for degrading pictures and videos. 

However, it has now been revealed that Williams chose the boy through a dating app telling him Edwards would pay him for sexual images.

The boy, now aged 23, told The Sun that Edwards used Williams to help him ‘find young men for his perverted web’.

He first met Williams when he was 17 in October, 2020, after speaking on a dating app.

After being told Edwards would pay for sexual images and videos, he messaged Edwards on Instagram that night.

Edwards asked the boy: ‘Did Alex tell you about me?’.

And then within minutes, he moved their conversation to the more private WhatsApp and sent the boy £500.

Edwards made him perform sexual acts over video-chat and sent him tens of thousands of pounds over a three year period of abuse.

The BBC news anchor, who was earning £430,000-a-year, even sent messages to the boy from behind the News at Ten desk. 

The fresh details come as as a one-part Channel 5 TV drama based on the scandal is set to air later this month.

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards will stars Martin Clunes as the disgraced news anchor and young actor Osian Morgan as the teen victim.   

Edwards was spared jail, receiving six months in prison suspended for two years – to the anger of many.

He sent more than £1,000 to Williams, who in turn sent him porn, some of which he called ‘amazing’.

Williams was living with his mother and step-father at a housing association property in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, at the time of his arrest.

He later pleaded guilty to seven offences of possessing and distributing indecent offences but escaped with a 12-month suspended sentence.