Ann Widdecombe's murder suspect has been pictured leaving court. Joshua Kerry was driven away from Westminster Magistrates' Court to the Old Bailey in a dark Land Rover Discovery. Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday over the death of Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister. The suspect appeared emotionless in the dock, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the short hearing.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded him in custody until his next court appearance, set to be at the Old Bailey on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Goldspring told Kerry: “You’re charged with an offence of murder which can only be dealt with in a crown court.” He added: “You are therefore remanded into custody and sent to crown court.” Miss Widdecombe died after being hit 21 times on her head with a hammer, Westminster Magistrates’ Court has heard.

Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court that, on July 8, Miss Widdecombe had been eating lunch when Kerry allegedly pulled up outside the front of her house in a red Vauxhall Corsa and entered using the front door.

Kerry is accused of then walking to the Reform UK spokeswoman’s kitchen and using a hammer to hit her on the top of her head 21 times, the court heard.

Kerry then allegedly tipped Miss Widdecombe from her chair and took a wallet out of her handbag before leaving and driving off, having only been in the property for two minutes, the court heard.

A provisional cause of death was given as a “blunt force injury to the head”, the court heard.

Mss Widdecombe was found by her gardener lying face down on her kitchen floor with a serious head injury, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court that, on July 8, Miss Widdecombe did not attend a pre-arranged online interview scheduled for just before 1pm, which would have been aired live on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show.

The show’s production team tried to contact the Reform UK spokeswoman through her personal assistant, who then asked the gardener to check on her, the court heard.

Prosecutors said he entered the house via the open front door the following day, July 9, and found Miss Widdecombe lying face down on her kitchen floor with a serious head injury.