Terrorism charges in magistrates' court

Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared in person at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday facing a charge of preparing acts of terrorism against British politicians. Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court that Kerry, a resident of Byrley Road in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, carried out online reconnaissance on prominent figures and institutions between 31 May 2024 and 8 July 2026. The defendant, sporting a thick beard and wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and home address. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded Kerry in custody, ordering the case transferred to the Central Criminal Court for an appearance on Friday.

“Mr Kerry, the terrorism charge which you face is indictable only which means I must send it to the crown court.”

Allegations involving Nigel Farage

Prosecutors alleged that Kerry researched the home address of Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage before driving from northern England to the politician's south London home on 19 April 2025. Farage's partner, Laure Ferrari, returned to the property on 20 April to find damage to the front door, including sections of the wooden frame hanging off, and a bottle of lighter fluid left on the porch. Forensic examinations detected tool marks from a 27mm blade on the door frame and matched Kerry's DNA to the lighter fluid container, while surveillance cameras recorded his car traveling toward London.

Murder of Ann Widdecombe

Kerry is also charged with the murder of 78-year-old former politician Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead on 8 July 2026 at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon. A previous court hearing heard that Widdecombe died after receiving 21 strikes to the head with a hammer. Widdecombe had served as a Conservative member of Parliament and prisons minister, known for her social conservatism opposing abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, before later appearing on television programmes and becoming a spokesperson for Reform UK. Her death prompted renewed security concerns for British lawmakers, recalling the 2016 murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by a far-right extremist and the 2021 murder of Conservative MP David Amess by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.

Reopened police investigation

The counter-terrorism charge follows an August decision by the Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing London to reopen an investigation into the April 2025 incident at Farage's address. Police initially treated the episode as an attempted burglary and closed the case without arrests before identifying an unpursued line of inquiry. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, stated that the charges under section 5(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006 followed extensive multi-agency forensic and investigative work.

“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.”

Kerry has not entered any pleas to either the terrorism charge or the murder charge and remains detained in custody.