Ann Widdecombe Murder Suspect Remanded Over Nigel Farage Terror Plot

The murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe was "politically and ideologically motivated", the Old Bailey has heard as her alleged killer appeared via video link facing a newly joined terrorism charge involving an alleged plot targeting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Joshua Kerry, 28, of Byrley Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, appeared before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb via Cloud Video Platform (CVP) from high-security HMP Belmarsh in south London on Friday 9 October 2026. Sitting in Court 1 at the Central Criminal Court for a preliminary hearing under case reference T20267040, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb formally granted an application by the Crown Prosecution Service to join the single charge of preparing terrorist acts directly to his existing murder indictment. Crown prosecutors outlined that the murder of Miss Widdecombe and the terrorism plot represent a single course of conduct and are inextricably linked. Kerry was remanded in custody ahead of a joint trial fixed to commence on 8 June 2027.

Wearing glasses and a grey prison-issue tracksuit, the 28-year-old defendant sat with his arms folded and legs crossed throughout the afternoon hearing. Kerry spoke only to confirm his identity over the CVP link from Belmarsh. The court was told that he will remain in high-security detention until his next scheduled court appearance in January 2027, when formal pleas are expected to be entered ahead of the trial next summer. The joinder of the two serious indictments follows Kerry's appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier in the week where prosecutors formally laid the single count of preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Detailing the Crown allegations regarding the murder, prosecutors stated that on 8 July 2026 Kerry drove 265 miles from his home in South Yorkshire to the Haytor residence of 78-year-old Miss Widdecombe on Dartmoor, Devon. The prosecution alleges that upon arriving at the property, Kerry struck the former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman in the head 21 times with a hammer, inflicting fatal injuries. Miss Widdecombe was found dead at her home later that day, prompting a major police investigation that led to Kerry's arrest. He was formally charged with her murder on 20 July. Miss Widdecombe served as Conservative MP for Maidstone and the Weald in Kent for 23 years, held ministerial office under Sir John Major in the 1990s and became a prominent figure for Reform UK after joining the party in 2019.

Regarding the terrorism charge, the prosecution alleges that between 31 May 2024 and 8 July 2026 Kerry conducted systematic online reconnaissance targeting politicians and other prominent public figures, during which he identified the private home addresses of both Miss Widdecombe and Mr Farage. Crown prosecutors allege that on Sunday 20 April 2025 Kerry travelled to Mr Farage's private residence in south London and attempted to force entry into the house. The court was told that Mr Farage's partner returned home to discover severe damage to the main wooden front door frame, with part of the wooden frame hanging off and tool marks indicating the use of a 27mm single-bladed edge. Investigators also recovered a bottle of lighter fluid left sitting in the porch.

The court heard that Counter Terrorism Policing London and the Metropolitan Police originally investigated the April 2025 incident at Mr Farage's residence as an attempted burglary, closing the file after making no arrests. However following Kerry's arrest in July for the murder of Miss Widdecombe, counter-terrorism detectives reopened the year-long probe in August after identifying an unpursued line of inquiry. That investigation culminated in the new terrorism charge laid this week. Remanding Kerry in custody until his next hearing in January 2027, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb confirmed that trial preparations and evidence disclosure would proceed on the joined indictment ahead of the trial in June next year.