Counter-terror police reopen probe into attempted burglary at Ann Widdecombe's London home last year

By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:04, 7 August 2026 | Updated: 21:22, 7 August 2026 Counter-terror police have re-opened a probe into an attempted burglary at the London home of Ann Widdecombe last year. The development comes after the former Tory minister was found dead, lying face down in the kitchen of her Dartmoor home on July 9, having allegedly been struck 21 times on the head with a hammer. The Metropolitan Police received a report of an attempted burglary at her Greater London address in April 2025. Counter Terrorism Policing London said officers from the Met carried out enquiries with its support, but no arrests were made and the case was later closed pending new lines of enquiry. The investigation has now been re-opened after counter-terror officers identified what they described as a new line of enquiry that was not pursued at the time and 'may have been relevant'. As a result, Counter Terrorism Policing London has today made a mandatory conduct referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The force said it would 'engage fully and comprehensively with the IOPC on this matter'. Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans said: 'The victims and families in both investigations have been updated today, and we continue to support them. Ann Widdecombe was found dead, lying face down in the kitchen of her Dartmoor home (pictured) after allegedly being hit on the head 21 times with a hammer Joshua Kerry, 28, who has been charged over the death of Ann Widdecombe. Pictured taking part in a charity fundraiser to guess the number of Easter eggs in a jar 'Given the nature of this matter and the significant public interest in the investigation into Ann Widdecombe's death, it was of critical importance for us to provide this update. 'We would urge the public, and the media, to help us to secure justice for those affected, and be mindful when sharing speculation or information not provided by police.'  It comes after last month a court heard how Widdecombe was bludgeoned 21 times over the head with a hammer in a 'ferocious' two-minute attack captured on camera. The 78-year-old former minister was ambushed in her own kitchen by a hammer-wielding intruder while she was having her lunch, it was said. Disturbing details of her brutal murder emerged today as her alleged killer Joshua Kerry appeared in court for the first time. The 28-year-old is alleged to have walked into the former MP's kitchen through an unlocked front door asking, 'Don't suppose you have bank cards and ID?' as he held a hammer out of sight. Prosecutors described the violence used as 'ferocious' saying Kerry struck the victim 21 times before shoving her body to the floor, rifling through her handbag for a wallet and fleeing the scene. Today it emerged for the first time that the pensioner died from a 'blunt force injury to the head'. But, just hours earlier a coroner had insisted the cause of death was unascertained. Philip Spinney, senior coroner for the county of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, opened an inquest into her death at 10am declaring: 'She was found to be unresponsive with visible injuries. Counter-terror police have re-opened a probe into an attempted burglary at the London home of Ann Widdecombe last year A cordon around Ms Widdecombe's bungalow in Haytor on Dartmoor Your browser does not support iframes. 'A postmortem examination has taken place and at this stage the precise medical cause of death has yet to be established.' But at a subsequent Westminster Magistrates Court hearing at 2pm, Prosecutor Kashir Malik said: 'A provisional cause of death from the pathologist was given as a blunt force injury to the head.' He told the court that the attack was caught on a kitchen camera installed in Ms Widdecombe's home which recorded the defendant's movements and sounds from the victim. The defendant was seen parking on Ms Widdecombe's drive on another camera and entering the property in Dartmoor around 12.01pm on July 8, the court was told. Mr Malik said: 'He is wearing black gloves and holding a hammer in his right hand, held by his side, hidden from Miss Widdecombe view. 'The defendant hits her on the top of the head with the hammer 21 times. He then tips her out of the chair where she falls on to the floor. 'The defendant then reaches for her handbag and takes her wallet out. 'The defendant leaves the property and gets back into his vehicle. 'From entering and leaving the property, he was in the property for two minutes.' Her body was not found until the next day after the Reform immigration spokeswoman did not attend a Channel 5 interview. The production team attempted to contact Ms Widdecombe through her personal assistant resulting in a gardener being sent to check up on her. The prosecutor added: 'The gardener entered the house; the front door was open and held back with the doorstop. The gardener discovered Miss Widdecombe was lying face down on the kitchen floor with a serious head injury. 'The ambulance service was called and paramedics confirmed the death.' This is a breaking news story, more to follow.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.