Revealed - the 'quiet and shy' former lift company employee being questioned over Ann Widdecombe's 'politically motivated' murder

By JAMES TOZER, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT and REBECCA CAMBER, CRIME AND SECURITY EDITOR and JOHN SIDDLE Published: 23:57, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 23:57, 17 July 2026 Smiling for the camera, this is the man suspected of killing Ann Widdecombe. Pictured here for the first time, Joshua Kerry is accused of targeting the 78-year-old former Tory minister in her Devon home in a suspected terrorist attack. The 28-year-old has lived alone in a council house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, since the death of his father last year. The family is well-known on the Kimberworth Park estate, with several members having served in the military. His father Paul Yates, a 'highly intelligent' former steel industry research engineer, stopped work after losing a leg and was diagnosed with stomach cancer in his 60s. After leaving school, Kerry got an office job at a lift company, where he was pictured in 2022 holding up a jar of Easter eggs as part of a charity fundraiser for local sea cadets. Shared on social media by staff, he was described as 'part of the engine room' of the firm. Neighbours this week described him as polite, 'quiet and shy', saying he would take the bins out for them or hold on to parcels on their behalf. Joshua Kerry, 28, who is suspected of having killed Ann Widdecombe on July 8, 2026, pictured taking part in a charity fundraiser to guess the number of Easter eggs in a jar Joshua Kerry was captured on CCTV leaving his property shortly before 8am on the day Ms Widdecombe is believed to have been bludgeoned to death, with what appears to be a pole visible in the pocket of his shorts Ann Widdecombe, a former MEP and Tory minister, pictured appearing on Talk TV on July 8, believed to be the day she was killed 'While his dad was unwell, Josh would take him out shopping in his car,' one resident said. But after his father's death he stopped work, and an eight-year-old red Vauxhall Corsa was usually in the driveway. Born in Rotherham, Kerry was raised with his elder brother and half-brother by their teaching assistant mother Siobhan after his parents split up. 'Joshua was such a quiet boy,' an uncle recalled this week. 'Gentle and polite. 'I used to go around when they were all little, and the eldest two used to be playfighting, rolling about on the floor, and Joshua would just be sat in the corner, watching them.' His parents remarried and siblings moved away to pursue successful careers, leaving him living alone in the council property. An aunt said his father's shock death around Christmas, when he was admitted to hospital 'and never came out', was 'a nasty setback' for Kerry. Detectives believe the former Tory minister was killed around 12.30pm on Wednesday July 8. Footage shows a group of armed officers descending on the 28-year-old's property in Rotherham on Saturday Forensic officers seen heading into the house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire where Joshua Kerry lived alone Floral tributes have been left on the grass outside her home, including a framed photograph of Ms Widdecombe According to neighbours he did not leave the house from Wednesday until Saturday when he was seen putting something into his wheelie bin. Around 9pm that evening a dozen officers swooped, arresting Kerry on suspicion of murder. Courtney Foster, 25, who lives next door, said: 'We saw officers running up. Some were armed. Then they banged on the door very loudly. 'They asked him his name, he confirmed it and they took him away.' His car was towed the next day. A neighbour said he was 'in shock' over Kerry's arrest. 'He is pleasant, quiet as a mouse and from a lovely family,' he said. 'His mum and brothers were great – I couldn't speak highly enough of them.' Your browser does not support iframes. Police initially treated the case as a botched burglary, but re-arrested Kerry on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism after allegedly discovering new 'evidence' to suggest a terrorist motivation. He remains in custody and can be held for questioning until Tuesday. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.