Ann Widdecombe murder suspect Joshua Kerry 'tried to batter down Nigel Farage's front door armed with bottle of lighter fluid' in terror plot against Reform leader, court told

Published: 06:33 EDT, 7 October 2026 | Updated: 06:47 EDT, 7 October 2026 The man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe tried to break into Nigel Farage's home in a terrorist plot one year earlier, a court heard today.Joshua Kerry is accused of trying to batter down the Reform UK leader's front door while armed with a bottle of lighter fluid in 'preparation of terrorist acts'.Westminster Magistrates Court heard that that 28-year-old 'carried out online reconnaissance on prominent people and institutions' on various dates between May 31, 2024 and July 8, 2026, including researching Mr Farage's home.Prosecutor Kashif Malik said the defendant spent hours outside Mr Farage's home on April 20 last year before fleeing, leaving a bottle of lighter fluid in the porch which was discovered by the MP's partner Laure Ferrari.He told the court: 'On Sunday, April 20, 2025, Nigel Farage's partner returned home to discover damage had been caused to her main front door. Part of the wooden door frame was hanging off and there was a bottle of lighter fluid in the porch.'The scene was forensically examined. A toolmark was found on the frame that originated from a 27mm single bladed edge. The obvious inference is that an attempt was made to gain entry to the house.The court heard that police later traced a red Vauxhall Corsa suspected of belonging to Kerry, discovering that the vehicle had travelled from his home in Rotherham to Mr Farage's street and was parked there for several hours that day before leaving and returning to the South Yorkshire town.Mr Malik added: 'He carried out online reconnaissance on prominent people and institutions on various dates between May 31, 2024 and July 8, 2026, including identifying the home address of Nigel Farage.' Joshua Kerry, 28, is accused of one count of preparation of terrorist acts Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, pictured at a rally in Doncaster last ThursdayKerry, did not enter plea to the charge of one count of preparation of terrorist acts relating to alleged activity between May 31, 2024 and July 8, 2026.He is accused of driving in the same vehicle to carry out the fatal attack on Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister Miss Widdecombe a year later.The 78-year-old died on July 8 after she was hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon.Kerry was charged with her murder in July.In August, Counter Terrorism Policing reopened a year-long probe into an alleged firebomb attack at Mr Farage's home in south London.Police said they had initially investigated the incident as an 'attempted burglary', but made no arrests before the case was closed.Following its reopening, officers identified a line of inquiry which had not been 'identified and pursued by them at the time'.Wearing a grey tracksuit, the bespectacled defendant sat with his hands folded in his lap as he spoke only to confirm his identity.He was remanded in custody ahead of a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday.