CCTV footage has emerged showing a man loading a 'wooden stick' into a car outside a home reportedly linked to the suspect arrested for the murder of Ann Widdecombe. The former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson was found dead at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, at about 11:40am on Thursday, July 9, 2026, after sustaining serious injuries.
Police presence in Rotherham
On Sunday, a substantial police presence was observed at a house in Byrley Road, Kimberworth Park, Rotherham – more than 200 miles from Widdecombe's home in Devon. This follows the arrest of a 28-year-old white British man on suspicion of murder in South Yorkshire on Saturday evening by Devon and Cornwall Police.
Neighbours told the Press Association that police arrived at the terraced property just before the kick-off of the England World Cup match on Saturday night. A number of units arrived, and officers removed a red car from the driveway at around 3am. By Sunday evening, a South Yorkshire Police Tactical Support Group van was parked outside, along with at least two other marked vehicles, and forensics officers in white overalls were entering and exiting the property.
CCTV evidence
The Telegraph reported that CCTV footage appears to show a man leaving an address linked to the suspect at around 7am on Wednesday, July 8 – the day Widdecombe is believed to have been attacked. The man is described as putting 'some kind of wooden stick' into the passenger side of a red car before driving off.
One neighbour said: 'It all happened just before the match. When we came home from watching it there were just two plain police cars there but everyone says there were loads more here before that.' Another woman added: 'Nothing happens on this street. We’ve been here 12 years and nothing has ever happened.'
Suspect's background
Asked about the man living in the house, the woman said the rest of the family moved out some time ago. 'He’s been living there on his own. We’ve never even seen him. We don’t really know him. I don’t think anybody knows him. It’s so strange,' she said.
Widdecombe, 78, was first elected as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987 and later served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and a spokesperson for Reform UK. She also gained fame outside politics after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Police statement
On Sunday, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall Police stated: 'At this point, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident and at this point we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this murder. At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that it was politically motivated.'
He added that detectives 'remain open-minded about the potential motive' and stressed there is no believed threat to the wider public. He urged the public not to engage with online speculation, calling it 'unhelpful' and 'distressing to the family and friends of Miss Widdecombe.'
Chief Constable James Vaughan said the force had 'mounted an extraordinary response to a horrific murder of a very prominent public figure' and praised the 'lightning pace' of the investigation, noting: 'I am really pleased that we have a suspect firmly in custody.'
