Ann Widdecombe was hit on head 21 times with hammer, prosecutors say

ecutors Detail Brutal Hammer Attack on Ann Widdecombe Ninoda.com – Ann Widdecombe was hit on head 21 times with a hammer during a devastating assault at

Prosecutors Detail Brutal Hammer Attack on Ann Widdecombe

Ninoda.com – Ann Widdecombe was hit on head 21 times with a hammer during a devastating assault at her Devon home, prosecutors have revealed. The former Conservative politician suffered twenty-one hammer strikes to her head in what investigators describe as a brutal attack. Security cameras captured the violent encounter while Widdecombe was having lunch at her Haytor residence on 8 July.

Prosecutor Kashif Malik presented compelling evidence to Westminster Magistrates’ Court regarding the fatal incident. He explained that Joshua Kerry, now 28 years old, arrived at the property driving a red Vauxhall Corsa. Kerry entered through the front entrance and remained inside for approximately two minutes before the attack began.

According to court testimony, Kerry wore black gloves during the assault. He allegedly struck Widdecombe repeatedly with a hammer in the kitchen area, then knocked her from her chair. Before fleeing the scene, Kerry reportedly took her wallet and drove away in his vehicle.

Court Proceedings and Investigation

Kerry subsequently appeared at the Old Bailey and was held in custody throughout the proceedings. Prosecutor Alistair Richardson described the assault as involving “ferocity of violence” during the Old Bailey hearing. The prosecution emphasized the severity of the blows delivered to the former politician.

Malik informed the court that Widdecombe had missed a scheduled online interview with Matt Allwright’s Channel 5 program. The interview was set for shortly before 13:00 BST on 8 July. When the production team could not reach her, they contacted her personal assistant, who then asked the gardener to visit the property.

The gardener entered through the open front door on 9 July and discovered Widdecombe lying face down on the kitchen floor with a severe head wound.

“The security camera footage showed the fatal attack happened the day before she was found,” Malik told the chief magistrate.

Police continue to examine whether the attack had political motivations or connections to terrorism. Kerry, originally from Rotherham, was charged with murder following an investigation by counter-terrorism officers. During his brief appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, he remained emotionless and only confirmed his name, date of birth, and address without indicating a plea.

Legal Timeline and Medical Findings

On Tuesday, Kerry appeared again at the Old Bailey. He is expected to be remanded at HMP Belmarsh in south-east London. The next scheduled appearance is 9 October for a case management hearing, with a provisional trial date set for 8 June 2027.

A pathologist provided a preliminary cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. An earlier inquest hearing revealed that emergency services responded on the day Widdecombe was discovered, though she was pronounced dead at 12:20. The court was informed that while a post-mortem examination occurred, the exact medical cause of death remains to be confirmed.

Widdecombe’s Political Legacy

Widdecombe enjoyed a decades-long career in British politics. She served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and held ministerial positions during Sir John Major’s government in the 1990s.

After leaving the Commons, she became a contestant on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, finishing as runner-up. Eight years later, she placed second on Celebrity Big Brother. She later represented South West England as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party and joined Reform UK as a party spokeswoman in 2023.