Archive · 8 Aug 2026
UK police reopen burglary case in Widdecombe murder probe
Police in the United Kingdom are trying to understand a very sad crime.
An important woman named Ann Widdecombe was hurt at her home in the countryside.
She was 78 years old and she died the next day.
Police have charged a man named Joshua Kerry with hurting her.
Police are also looking at an old case from last year.
In that case, someone tried to break into a house in London.
The old case was closed, but now police are looking at it again.
They found something new that might be connected to the sad crime, but they are not telling everyone what it is yet.
Police still want to know why this happened and whether politics had anything to do with it.
British counterterrorism police on Friday reopened a London attempted burglary investigation, first reported in April 2025, as part of the probe into the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
Widdecombe, 78, a former government minister and a prominent figure in Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, was found dead at her rural southwest England home on July 9 after being attacked the day before.
Joshua Kerry, 28, was charged with Widdecombe's murder on July 20.
Counter Terrorism Policing London identified a line of enquiry not pursued at the time of the burglary probe that may have been relevant, but police gave no details on how the two cases may be connected.
Police said the investigation into the motive, including any possible political motivation, remains ongoing.
- Who
- Ann Widdecombe, 78, a former government minister and Reform UK figure who was murdered; Joshua Kerry, 28, charged with her murder; and Counter Terrorism Policing London and the Metropolitan Police, with Vicki Evans as senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing.
- What
- Police reopened an attempted burglary investigation in London because a line of enquiry identified later may have been relevant to the Widdecombe murder probe.
- When
- Announced on Friday, August 7; the attempted burglary was reported in April 2025; Widdecombe was found dead on July 9; Kerry was charged on July 20.
- Where
- The attempted burglary was at a Greater London area address; Widdecombe was found dead at her home in rural southwest England.
- Why
- Counterterrorism police identified a line of enquiry not pursued at the time that may have been relevant to the murder investigation, which continues to examine the motive, including any possible political motivation.
- Victim
- Ann Widdecombe, 78, former government minister and Reform UK figure
- Death
- Found dead July 9 at her rural southwest England home after being attacked the day before
- Suspect charged
- Joshua Kerry, 28, charged with murder on July 20
- Burglary report
- Attempted burglary reported in April 2025 at a Greater London area address
- Initial outcome
- Enquiries made with support from Counter Terrorism Policing London; no arrests; probe closed
- Case reopened
- August 7, 2025, as part of the Widdecombe murder investigation
- Motive
- Investigation ongoing, including possible political motivation