Joshua Kerry, the man accused of killing Ann Widdecombe, has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on a terror charge linked to an alleged plot against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Kerry, 28, is accused of one count of preparation of terrorist acts following an alleged incident at Farage's home last year. The charge relates to activity alleged to have taken place between May 31, 2024, and July 8, 2026.
Court appearance
Wearing a prison-issue grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms, bearded and bespectacled Kerry spoke in a strong Yorkshire accent to confirm his name and date of birth at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Hearing the facts of the allegation made against Kerry regarding the alleged terror plot against Nigel Farage, the court heard the Reform UK leader's partner discovered her main front door had been damaged on April 20 last year. Part of the wooden door frame was hanging off and a bottle of lighter fluid was found in the porch.
Murder charge
Kerry, a former lift company admin worker from Rotherham, was also charged in July with the murder of Reform UK politician Miss Widdecombe, 78. The ex-Tory minister was found dead at the home where she lived alone in Haytor Vale on Dartmoor, Devon, on July 9 after allegedly being hit over the head 21 times with a hammer.
Kerry is next due to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday for a pre-trial hearing in the murder case.
Investigation reopened
In August, CTP reopened a year-long probe into an alleged incident in south London. The Metropolitan Police and CTP London said they investigated the incident as an “attempted burglary”, but made no arrests before the case was closed pending any new lines of inquiry.
Following its reopening, CTP London identified a line of inquiry which it said “may have been relevant” but had not been “identified and pursued by them at the time”.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said last week: "My profound sympathies are with Nigel Farage and his family. An attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all. This case raises serious questions about the security of those in public life."
Last week, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, commented on the charge saying: “We have been running a hugely intensive and complex investigation for some time.
“The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counter Terrorism Policing network. This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts, and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of enquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge.”
