Ann Widdecombe 'hit on head with hammer 21 times' at home

Ann Widdecombe died after she was hit on the head with a hammer 21 times at her home, prosecutors have said.

Joshua Kerry, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with her murder on Tuesday.

He was first arrested on suspicion of murder on July 11, two days after the 78-year-old Reform UK spokeswoman was found dead at her home in Devon on July 8.

On July 13, he was additionally arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, but he has not been charged with this offence.

Kashif Malik, prosecuting, said that on July 8, 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 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, July 9.

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

Kerry then allegedly used a hammer to hit 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.

A bearded Kerry, who appeared in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and Byrley Road address.

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey later on Tuesday.

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

Widdecombe was first elected as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, and went on to become an MEP for the Brexit Party and then a spokeswoman for Reform UK.

Alongside her political career, she found fame from starring in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.