‘Ann Widdecombe was bludgeoned over the head 21 times’

Ann Widdecombe was found lying face down in her kitchen by her gardener after she was bludgeoned 21 times over the head with a hammer, a court heard.

The former Tory minister and Reform UK spokeswoman, 78, was found seriously injured at her £600,000 bungalow ‘Widdecombe’s Rest’ in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, on 9 July.

Ms Widdecombe’s gardener called 999 after being sent to find the politician when she failed to reply to a Channel 5 producer the previous day.

Joshua Kerry, 28, was arrested at his council house some 265 miles away in Rotherham, South Yorks, by armed police on 11 July, with footage showing a topless man being led away by officers.

The former maintenance scheduler at a lift firm was charged yesterday with murder.

Bearded and pot-bellied Kerry appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (tues) wearing a grey prison tracksuit with his arms crossed.

Kerry, defended by Andrew Swaby, spoke only to confirm his identity, and he will appear at the Old Bailey this afternoon.

District Judge Paul Goldspring told him: ‘Mr Kerry you are charged with an offence of murder which can only be tried in the crown court. I therefore send your case to the Central Criminal Court…you will appear there this afternoon.’

Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court Ms Widdecombe was due to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show for an online interview at 12.50pm on 8 July, but did not reply to messages from a producer through her PA.

When the PA asked the former cabinet minister’s gardener to check on her, he found the front door held open with a doorstop and Ms Widdecombe lying face down on the floor injured.

‘She was lying face down on the kitchen floor with a series of head injuries,’ said Mr Malik.

Paramedics were called and confirmed her death.

When police arrived at 12.01pm, they found kitchen camera footage showing Ms Widdecombe eating her lunch while a Ring doorbell camera showed a red Vauxhall Corsa pulling up outside.

After entering her property, the suspect – wearing black gloves with a hammer at his side – asked ‘don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?’, the court heard.

‘He then proceeded to hit her over the head 21 times… He then tips her out of her chair where she falls onto the floor. He then reaches into her bag and takes her wallet,’ alleged Mr Malik.

The prosecutor said the footage shows the suspect inside Ms Widdecombe’s home for two minutes.

A pathologist gave the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.

Police traced a red Vauxhall to Rotherham and arrested Kerry on suspicion of murder at his home at 9.07pm on 11 July.

Officers searched the defendant’s property and seized a phone.

He was later further arrested for being involved in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000.

Enquiries into a motive are ongoing, including whether there is a terrorist or political connection.

Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, last night said police were still probing a potential political or terrorist connection.

‘Our prosecutors have worked closely with the police to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court, and we will continue working with them as their investigation progresses.’

Investigators were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, he said, adding that counter terrorism teams have gathered “a huge amount of information” over the last week, leading to more than 800 lines of inquiry.

The investigation began with Devon and Cornwall Police but was taken over by Counter Terrorism Policing South East.

Terrorism laws allow a suspect to be held for up to seven days in the first instance, with investigators permitted to apply for time extensions up to 14 days in total.

Ms Widdecombe was a Conservative MP in Kent between 1987 and 2010 and held several ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government.

Ms Widdecombe appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

She served as an MEP for the Brexit Party until Britain left the European Union, becoming immigration and justice spokesperson after it became Reform UK in 2023.

Philip Spinney, the senior coroner for Devon, earlier opened Ms Widdicombe’s inquest and offered his ‘deepest condolences’ to her family.
ENDS