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Widdecombe murder accused “tried to get into Farage’s home”, court told
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Joshua Kerry, 28, is also charged with preparing terrorist acts. Prosecutors say he had a list of prominent figures that included Nigel Farage.
Prosecutors will argue that the killing of Ann Widdecombe was politically and ideologically motivated and had a terrorist connection, a court heard on Friday.
Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, is accused of murdering the former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman at her home in Haytor, Devon, on 8 July. He is also charged with engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between May 2024 and July 2026. Part of that charge relates to Nigel Farage.
He appeared by video link from Belmarsh prison and was not asked to enter pleas. He was remanded in custody until a further hearing in January.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week, prosecutor Kashif Malik said Kerry was accused of “online reconnaissance on prominent people and institutions”, including finding Mr Farage’s home address. It is alleged that he travelled to the Reform leader’s house in south London in April 2025. The court heard that damage was found to the front door and a bottle of lighter fluid was found in the porch. “The inference is that an attempt was made to gain entry to the house,” Mr Malik said.
On Friday, prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told the court that Kerry had “an extreme left-wing and/or an anti-establishment mindset” and was particularly hostile towards Reform. He said Kerry had compiled a list that “contained the names of politicians and prominent figures”, including Mr Farage and Miss Widdecombe. No other names were given in court.
“We say it was politically and ideologically motivated,” Mr Polnay said. He added that the prosecution would allege the murder “has a terrorist connection”.
The incident at Mr Farage’s home was first treated as an attempted burglary, and police closed the case without making any arrests. Counter-terror officers reopened it in August.
Mr Farage has faced threats before. In 2011, the pilot who had flown him in an election-day plane crash the previous year was convicted of threatening to kill him. In 2023, over a decade later, he was found dead at his home.
After the terrorism charge was announced, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Let no one make any mistake: an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all.” She has promised to update Parliament on strengthening protections for public figures.
Kerry has not entered pleas to either charge. None of the allegations have yet been tested in court.
