Counter-terror police investigating the death of Ann Widdecombe have re-opened an old probe into an attempted burglary last year.
The incident at an address in Greater London was reported in April 2025.
The Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London investigated but no arrests were made and the case was closed pending any new lines of inquiry.
Since it was re-opened, CTP London has identified a line of inquiry ‘which may have been relevant’ but was ‘not identified and pursued by them at the time’.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now investigating the ‘conduct’ of a CTP London staff member, following an allegation that the employee ‘failed to identify and pursue a line of inquiry’ related to the attempted burglary.
Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister Miss Widdecombe was having lunch at her home when Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, allegedly burst into her bungalow, the Old Bailey heard previously.
Kerry was arrested on suspicion of murder on July 11, two days after Miss Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her property in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon.
He was also arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism – but he has not been charged with this offence.
Senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, said: ‘As part of the ongoing investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East into the murder of Ann Widdecombe, officers have re-opened an investigation into an incident reported to police last year.’
She added: ‘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. ‘
CTP London made a ‘mandatory conduct referral’ to the IOPC on Friday.
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. He is pictured taking part in a charity fundraiser to guess the number of Easter eggs in a jar
An IOPC spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that the IOPC has decided to independently investigate the conduct of a Counter Terrorism Policing London staff member following a referral received earlier today.
‘The conduct relates to an allegation the individual failed to identify and pursue a line of enquiry relating to an attempted burglary reported in April 2025.
‘Counter Terrorism Policing London has been notified of our decision, and no further information is available at this early stage.’
Last month a court heard how Miss 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.
On July 21 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
‘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.
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