Ann Widdecombe was struck on the head with a hammer 21 times in an attack at her home, prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates' Court. The incident, which occurred on July 8, was captured on security camera footage.

Joshua Kerry, 28, has been charged with the murder of the former Conservative MP and media personality. Prosecutors allege Kerry arrived at Widdecombe's house in a red Vauxhall Corsa and entered through the front door. He remained in the property for approximately two minutes, allegedly wearing black gloves, before carrying out the attack in the kitchen, tipping her from her chair, and taking her wallet before fleeing.

Kashif Malik, prosecuting, informed the court that Widdecombe missed a pre-arranged online interview with Channel 5's Matt Allwright show on the afternoon of July 8. Her personal assistant, unable to reach her, asked Widdecombe's gardener to check on her. The gardener discovered Widdecombe lying face down on her kitchen floor with a severe head injury on July 9, having entered through an open front door.

Counter-terrorism detectives are leading the investigation into the attack, with authorities exploring potential terrorism connections or political motivations. Kerry, from Rotherham, was formally charged with murder on Monday night and appeared in court, speaking only to confirm his personal details. He did not enter a plea.

Kerry later appeared at the Old Bailey and was remanded in custody. A provisional trial date has been set for June 8, 2027, with a further case management hearing scheduled for October 9. He is expected to be held at HMP Belmarsh.

A provisional cause of death has been given as blunt force injury to the head, according to a pathologist. An inquest hearing opened and adjourned on Tuesday heard that emergency services were called on July 9, and Widdecombe was pronounced dead at 12:20 PM. The precise medical cause of death is still to be established following a post-mortem examination.

Ann Widdecombe had a long career in politics, serving as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidstone from 1987 to 2010. She held ministerial positions under Prime Minister John Major in the 1990s. After leaving Parliament, she became a well-known television personality, participating in shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack, including the precise timeline and any potential motives. The involvement of counter-terrorism units highlights the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the case, despite the investigation into broader motivations being ongoing.