Dame Penny Mordaunt broke down in tears while giving evidence at Southampton Crown Court today, describing how an alleged stalker's persistent campaign left her feeling 'very vulnerable' and forced her to increase her personal security.
The Alleged Stalking Campaign
The former Defence Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons, 52, told jurors that Edward Brandt, a 60-year-old Conservative Party member from the Isle of Wight, bombarded her with emails and phone calls and even jumped the security barrier at her constituency office. The court heard that Brandt, who was not her constituent, allegedly ignored a formal police warning to cease contact.
Prosecutor Robert Bryan outlined that the situation began in the autumn of 2023. 'Mr Brandt faces an allegation of stalking involving severe harm or distress,' he stated, emphasising that MPs like Mordaunt have a 'higher baseline level of fear' following tragedies like the murders of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.
Brandt's initial contact was a call and follow-up email asking for half an hour of her time for a 'cuppa'. After Mordaunt's office manager returned his call, he began asking inappropriate questions about her security arrangements. This was followed by a series of emails over the subsequent months, including messages for Christmas, New Year, and her birthday on March 4.
Escalation and Security Measures
The situation escalated dramatically on December 16, 2023, when Brandt went to her constituency office. CCTV captured him approaching the building before he attempted to jump the turnstile barriers, triggering alarms. Security personnel rushed to intercept him, and Mordaunt, who was in the office at the time, had to be escorted to her car.
Despite admitting to police that he had been sending messages and being told not to contact her, Brandt emailed again on March 5 to wish her a happy birthday. In this message, he apologised for being a day late and stated that her rejections had 'stiffened his resolve' to meet her. He was bailed with conditions not to contact Mordaunt, ordered to attend a victim awareness course, and fined £75.
However, the contact continued. On May 6, he left a voicemail referencing a photograph on her LinkedIn, and on May 10, he messaged, 'I am just going to keep knocking on your door until you open it and let me shake your hand.' He was arrested on May 11.
Personal Toll and Impact
Giving evidence, a visibly emotional Mordaunt described the profound impact the ordeal had on her and those around her. 'He made me feel very vulnerable and I had concerns for my own safety,' she told the jury, adding that she believed he wanted a 'personal relationship'.
The security measures she was forced to implement were extensive. She had to change the security in her constituency office, hide signage, change locks to require personal fobs, and install new CCTV. She and her staff were issued with personal alarms, and she was advised to alter her predictable routine and avoid public transport.
The stress extended to her home life, where she had to have a difficult conversation with her Ukrainian foster child, a vulnerable person. 'I had to explain to her what she should do if he came to the door,' Mordaunt said, her voice breaking with emotion.
'The whole situation took its toll on me,' she testified. 'When you're constantly having to think about whether he was going to be in your workplace or on your street... It was just incredibly draining.' The case also placed a significant burden on her entire team, creating 'so much more work for them.'
The trial continues at Southampton Crown Court.
