Former politician Ann Widdecombe was fatally attacked in her home in Haytor, Devon, last week, with prosecutors revealing she was struck 21 times with a hammer while eating lunch. The attack was reportedly captured on camera, according to information presented at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Kashif Malik stated that 28-year-old Joshua Kerry, from South Yorkshire, arrived at the property on 8 July driving a red Vauxhall Corsa. Entering through the front door, Kerry—who was wearing black gloves—allegedly attacked Widdecombe in her kitchen.
Prosecutors claim he tipped her from her chair, struck her repeatedly with a hammer, and took her wallet before fleeing the scene. He is said to have been inside the home for two minutes.
The alarm was raised after Widdecombe failed to attend a pre-arranged online interview for a Channel 5 show hosted by Matt Allwright, scheduled just before 13:00 BST on 8 July. The production team reached out to her personal assistant, who subsequently requested that Widdecombe's gardener check on her.
Upon entering the house on 9 July through the open front door, the gardener discovered Widdecombe lying face down on the kitchen floor with a serious head injury. Emergency services were called, and she was pronounced dead at 12:20.
Joshua Kerry, who was charged with murder on Monday night following an investigation led by counter-terrorism detectives, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court. During the hearing, he remained emotionless and spoke only to confirm his personal details.
He was not asked to enter a plea. Prosecutor Alistair Richardson later told the Old Bailey that the attack was carried out with a "ferocity of violence."
While a post-mortem examination has been conducted, an inquest hearing opened on Tuesday was told that the precise medical cause of death has yet to be formally established, though a pathologist has provided a provisional cause of blunt force injury to the head.
Authorities are continuing to investigate whether there is a terrorism connection or political motive behind the incident.
Kerry has been remanded in custody, with expectations that he will be held at HMP Belmarsh. He is scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey for a case management hearing on 9 October, with a provisional trial date set for 8 June 2027.
Ann Widdecombe’s long career in public life included serving as the Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years and holding ministerial roles in Sir John Major’s government during the 1990s.
Following her time in the Commons, she gained further public recognition through television appearances, including Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
More recently, she served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and became a spokeswoman for Reform UK in 2023.
