The suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was led away to a police van by officers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, shortly after 9pm on Saturday night
Armed cops arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of Ann Widdecombe’s murder after swooping on a mid-terrace house some 270 miles away from the former Cabinet Minister’s home.
The suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was led away to a police van by officers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, shortly after 9pm on Saturday night. Police were today examining CCTV which appeared to show the suspect putting a wooden stick in the back of a “filthy” and “moss-covered” red Vauxhall Corsa on the day she was killed.
Forensics officers were also seen pulling items off walls inside the property and carrying a pair of large bolt-cutters inside yesterday, while detectives held the man in custody at an undisclosed location. Speaking about the moment he was arrested, a local resident described how the suspect appeared “calm” while being led away dressed all in black.
They said: “He had one officer on either side holding an arm each and then they put him in the back of the marked van.”
Neighbours said around a dozen armed officers surrounded the property before knocking “very loudly” on the front door shortly before the start of England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway. The suspect opened it before quickly being apprehended by officers.
Courtney Foster, 25, who lives next door with his partner Rayed Astle, 26, said: “We were in the kitchen and just saw the officers running up. There were about 12 officers and quite a few cars. Some were armed.
“They banged on the door very loudly. They didn’t smash the door down because he opened it. They asked him his name, he confirmed it and they took him away.”
Locals described the long-haired suspect as a “loner” who had become reclusive since the death of his dad in December last year.
Mr Foster said: “He was someone you’d have a conversation with, but that changed after his dad died. He became very quiet. He kept himself to himself and wouldn’t really speak to anyone. He was always in the house. I don’t think he worked.”
Another resident, who asked not to be named, added: “I was about to watch the football and I could hear a helicopter overhead and my wife shouting ‘look what is happening at the front of house’.
“I saw many undercover police outside. I knew they were not neighbours coming to visit! Then on the back garden I saw two police officers with big guns on the man’s neighbours garden.”
Bludgeoned to death
Police have said Ms Widdecombe was killed at 12.30pm on Wednesday in the isolated cottage where she lived alone with her cat on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
The former Tory minister, 78, was bludgeoned to death in the £600,000 bungalow, just 30 minutes before she was set to appear via video call from her home, on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show. She had last messaged a producer at 12.19pm, but failed to respond to a text at 12.48pm.
Her body remained undiscovered for almost 24 hours before finally being found in the kitchen of her home, in Haytor, Devon, at 11.40am on Thursday.
During a briefing at Devon & Cornwall Police’s HQ in Exeter yesterday morning, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, who is leading the operation, said there is so far no evidence the alleged murder was politically motivated or terrorism related. He also revealed the suspect is a white British man and said detectives are not seeking anyone else.
He told how officers had received more than 120 reports of information from members of the public to assist them in the investigation.
He added: “I would just like to thank all those who have taken the time to contribute that information and ask anyone who has not yet submitted any information that they hold to do so as a priority.”
The cop said Ms Widdecombe’s family were being kept up to date with developments by specialist officers, adding: “Our thoughts remain with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
‘Open-minded about the motive’
The arrest came just hours after Reform leader Nigel Farage claimed he believed the crime was “pre-meditated murder” and alleged it came after a car parked on Ms Widdecombe’s driveway just minutes before she was killed.
ACC Longman yesterday said detectives “remain open-minded about the motive”, but “are aware of online and public speculation”.
He said: “Again I urge people not to share or engage with that speculation. It is unhelpful, it doesn’t aid our investigation and particularly it is distressing to the family and friends of Ms Widdecombe. We understand that there is a huge appetite for information, but progressing and protecting the integrity of our investigation is paramount now.”
Ms Widdecombe was a Tory MP from 1987 until 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone – later Maidstone and the Weald – and held several ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government. She defected to the Brexit Party in protest against Britain’s failure to leave the European Union, and later became a spokesman for Mr Farage’s party.
Church service
A packed church service was yesterday held at Buckfast Abbey, close to Ms Widdecombe’s home, at 11am on Sunday morning – exactly seven days after she attended a service there. Reform deputy leader Richard Tice and party representatives Lee Anderson, Danny Kruger and Zia Yusuf also paid their respects at a makeshift shrine near Ms Widdecombe’s home during a short outdoor service attended by more than 50 mourners.
Mr Tice said: “Ann Widdecombe was unique. She was adored by millions. She was treasured by millions, including my late mum. And she was a remarkable, remarkable figure.
“We have so much to learn from our Ann. It’s worth looking at the clip of her with Graham Norton when she said: ‘Life is not a dress rehearsal. You have got to go for it’. And I think it’s worth remembering, she did that, in every way.”
Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable James Vaughan yesterday hailed his force’s “extraordinary response to a horrific murder of a very prominent public figure”.
He said: “The operation has been running at a lightning pace for 48 hours and I am really pleased that we have a suspect firmly in custody. Well done to all. This is clearly British policing at its very best.
“Thank you to media colleagues for your patience and working with us over the last two days, allowing us to focus on the most important thing here which is to catch a dangerous man and bring him to justice.”
He added: “I reiterate the ongoing message and direction around speculation and how unhelpful and how that can hinder a major investigation of this nature.”
