Ann Widdecombe was eating lunch in her kitchen when a man walked in and asked: “Don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?” Seconds later, the former Conservative minister was struck on the head 21 times with a hammer – an attack so ferocious it tipped her from her chair and left her dying on the floor.
Joshua Kerry, 28, allegedly drove 300 miles from his home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, to Widdecombe’s bungalow in Haytor, Devon, on 8 July. A hallway camera captured the Reform UK spokeswoman sitting down to eat before the defendant entered through the front door, prosecutor Kashif Malik told Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
“Joshua Kerry hit Ann Widdecombe 21 times with a hammer and stole her wallet, court hears.”
Within two minutes, Kerry had taken Widdecombe’s wallet from her handbag and driven off in a red Vauxhall Corsa, the court heard. The 78-year-old was found face-down on her kitchen floor the next morning by her gardener, who had been asked to check on her after she missed a pre-arranged online interview for Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show.
Prosecutor Alistair Richardson later told the Old Bailey that the attack was “planned and targeted”, carried out with a “ferocity of violence”. A pathologist gave a provisional cause of death as blunt force injury to the head.
Kerry was arrested on suspicion of murder on 11 July, two days after Widdecombe’s body was discovered. Two days later, he was rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism – but has not been charged with that offence. Head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor said detectives are still investigating any possible political or terrorist motivation.
Appearing in the dock at Westminster wearing a grey tracksuit, Kerry spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address. He was remanded in custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on 9 October for a case management hearing, with a provisional trial date set for 8 June 2027.
