Man charged with murder of Ann Widdecombe also faces terror preparation charges

The man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe has been charged with preparing acts of terror including against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Counter terror police said Joshua Kerry, 28, was charged on Friday with one count of preparation of terrorist acts.

The charge relates to activity which is alleged to have taken place between May 2024 and July 2026.

Kerry was charged in July with the murder of 78-year-old Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman.

Counter Terrorism Policing Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said the charge on Friday was the result of a "hugely intensive and complex investigation".

"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," she added.

Kerry is due to appear in court over the terror charge on Wednesday, police said.

Widdecombe was found dead on Thursday 9 July at her home in Haytor, Devon, having sustained serious injuries.

She served as Conservative MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and was appointed to ministerial roles in Sir John Major's government in the 1990s.

Following her departure from the Commons, Widdecombe appeared on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and would later become a Reform UK spokeswoman.

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