Man accused of murdering Widdecombe with hammer

A man allegedly hit Ann Widdecombe 21 times over the head with a hammer in a "planned and targeted" attack carried out with a "ferocity of violence" in her kitchen, prosecutors say.

The Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister was having lunch at her home when Joshua Kerry, aged 28, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, allegedly burst into her bungalow earlier this month, the Old Bailey court heard.

Mr Kerry was arrested on suspicion of murder on 11 July, two days after Ms Widdecombe, aged 78, was found dead at her property in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon.

He was also arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism - but he has not been charged with this offence.

He will have to wait almost a year if the case goes to trial after a provisional date was set for 8 June 2027.

Prosecutor Alistair Richardson said that on 8 July Miss Widdecombe did not attend a pre-arranged online interview at just before 1pm, which would have been aired live on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show.

The show’s production team tried to contact Ms Widdecombe through her personal assistant, who then asked the family gardener to check on her, the court heard.

Prosecutors said he found the politician lying face down on her kitchen floor with a serious head injury the next day, 9 July.

Mr Richardson said that on 8 July, Ms Widdecombe had been eating lunch when Mr Kerry allegedly pulled up outside the front of her house in a red Vauxhall Corsa and entered through the front door.

Mr Kerry then allegedly used a hammer to hit Ms Widdecombe on the top of her head 21 times, the court heard.

He is accused of tipping her from her chair and taking a wallet out of her handbag before leaving and driving off, having only been in the house for two minutes, the court heard.

A provisional cause of death was given as a blunt force injury to the head, the court heard.

Mr Richardson said that Mr Kerry had driven 265 miles (426km) from his home to carry out the "ferocity of violence" in the "planned and targeted" attack.

A bearded Mr Kerry had earlier appeared emotionless in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing a grey tracksuit, and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and Byrley Road address.

He will next appear at the Old Bailey on 9 October for a case management hearing before a further plea and trial preparation hearing on 20 November.

Speaking outside New Scotland Yard yesterday, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor said detectives are still investigating any possible political or terrorist motivation.

Ms Widdecombe was first elected as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, was a prisons minister in the 1990s and later became an MEP for the Brexit Party.

At the time of her death she was a spokeswoman on immigration and justice for Reform UK.

She also found fame outside politics on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.