A murder investigation has been launched after the suspicious death of the former MP Ann Widdecombe at her home on Dartmoor, in Devon, police have said.
Widdecombe's body was found with "serious injuries" by the ambulance service at an address in Haytor, Devon, at 11.40am on Thursday. The police said officers were searching for a "white male" in connection with her death.
The former Conservative minister's next-of-kin had been informed and were being supported by specially trained officers, Devon and Cornwall police said.
Detectives from the Force Major Crime Investigation Team had launched a murder investigation and were conducting extensive inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Widdecombe's death.
Roads were closed around the scene and a cordon was in place at the property while specialist officers continued forensic examinations.
The force said there would be a significant police presence in the area on Friday while detectives and officers conducted house-to-house and CCTV inquiries.
DCI Ilona Rosson said: "This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time
Our murder inquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened and to locate the person responsible, who we believe to be a white male.
"I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.
"We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Haytor Vale, Haytor, or anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage which could assist with our investigation."
She said the extra police presence was also to provide reassurance to residents and anyone with concerns could approach officers.
"We will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media. This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Ann Widdecombe."
Widdecombe, who appeared on Talk radio on Wednesday, lived in Haytor Vale, a village within the Dartmoor National Park.
She was a Conservative MP from 1987-2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald. She became a member of the Brexit party from 2019 and served as an MEP, representing South West England, between 2019 and 2020. She was also a member of that party's successor, Reform UK.
Paying tribute after her death was announced earlier on Friday, her management made no reference to how she died.
Portraying her political views as the result of what she saw as "strong Christian values and commitment to public service", her representatives, Cloud9 Management, said: "She loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK and offering forthright views on the hot topics of the day across numerous radio and television programmes.
"Ann was a valued patron of many causes, particularly her animal charities. As Ann once said on The Graham Norton Show: 'We get one go this side of eternity, one go. Life is not a dress rehearsal, you take opportunities that you like and you go for it, that's my philosophy."
They later said they were "devastated" to learn a murder investigation had been launched into her death.
The statement said: "We are absolutely devastated by this news following a very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours."
The home secretary urged the public to refrain from speculation over Widdecombe's death, describing the circumstances as "extremely distressing".
In a post on X, Shabana Mahmood said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ann Widdecombe. The circumstances of her death are extremely distressing and my thoughts are with Ann's family and loved ones.
"Ann's dedication to public service was decades long, and she was a true servant of her constituents.
"I have spoken to the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall police today. The Home Office stands ready to provide whatever support they need with their ongoing investigation. I urge everyone to avoid speculation and allow the police investigation to progress."
The mummified body of a sex offender wanted by police in connection with the death of his partner was discovered in a caravan six months later, an inquest has heard.
Richard Scatchard, 70, disappeared the day after 61-year-old Kelly Faiers was found dead at his home in Minehead, Somerset, on Oct 15 2023.
Ms Faiers, a mother of four, died from an overdose of sleeping tablets and alcohol. She had been in a relationship with Scatchard, who was on licence from a life sentence for drugging and sexually assaulting women, for about six months after meeting him on a dating website.
Earlier this week, a coroner concluded that she was unlawfully killed.
On Thursday, an inquest into Scatchard's death at Somerset coroner's court heard the last confirmed sighting of him was in the Watchet area of Somerset, around 10 miles from his home.
His decomposed remains were found in a caravan at a campsite in Watchet when it was removed from winter storage in April 2024.
Scatchard, who was described as fit and well for his age and with no known medical conditions, was identified from his fingerprints.
Det Con Mark Evison said in a statement that Scatchard was wearing a wristwatch set to British Summer Time. This meant the watch was last set before Oct 29 2023, when the clocks went back, and it was inferred that he had died before that date.
Det Sgt Craig Thomson said Scatchard had no known links to the campsite, and it was not known how he had travelled there. "We do not know for certain what day he went into the caravan," he said.
Dr Deborah Cook, a pathologist, told the inquest that Scatchard's body was "heavily decomposed". She said there were no visible signs of injury, no penetrating injuries, and no evidence of self-harm.
"Post-mortem examination confirmed near-total mummification of the body," said Dr Cook. "The internal organs were severely affected by decomposition, but there was no obvious natural disease to account for his death."
While there was evidence of fractures to five of his ribs close to the time of death, they would not have been expected to be fatal, the pathologist said, adding: "With the degree of decomposition present, it's not possible to exclude a concussive head injury having caused or contributed to death."
Toxicology samples were taken that showed the presence of alcohol and the compound contained in sleeping tablets, cough mixture or hay fever tablets, but because of the level of decomposition it was not possible to obtain accurate samples for assessment.
Dr Cook added: "Given the advanced state of decomposition with likely interval between death and post-mortem of over five months, it's not possible to confirm or refute a hypothesis that death was due to sleeping tablet toxicity, or to a combination of sleeping tablets and alcohol."
She said the cause of death was "unascertained".
The court heard Scatchard had kept his relationship with Ms Faiers secret from his probation officers because he was meant to disclose "any emerging intimate relationships".
He had been given two warnings for breaching his licence conditions, and had been told that he risked being sent back to prison.
Curtis Martin, a probation officer, said it had been decided that Scatchard should remain under supervision.
"He was assessed as being too argumentative and controlling with the professionals, and there were concerns that without these risk monitoring and controls being in place, he would be an increased risk towards the public," he said.
The inquest continues.
Police are investigating donations worth £500,000 made to Reform UK by the mother of a convicted fraudster and ally of Nigel Farage.
The investigation concerns two donations of £250,000 made by Fiona Cottrell, whose son George has often accompanied Farage to Reform events and media appearances. The May 2024 donations are under investigation over whether they were intended to conceal a donation by an impermissible donor.
Two people had been interviewed under caution in relation to the May 2024 donations, the Metropolitan police said in a statement on Thursday night, adding that the investigation was launched in February 2025 after a referral by the Electoral Commission. No arrests have been made.
The donations appear to be separate to a deposit of about £1m that Fiona Cottrell made in June 2024 to a company run by Richard Tice, Reform's deputy leader. This week, the Guardian revealed that the transfer to Tice's company, Britain Means Business, was reported to the National Crime Agency by bankers.
According to financial industry sources, bankers and the NCA have been unable to trace the origin of £1m given to Britain Means Business, £500,000 of which was moved into Reform's coffers weeks in advance of the general election.
Scotland Yard has been examining the separate May 2024 donations and potential related offences for more than a year.
The police investigation into the May 2024 donations, first reported by the Times, started in February 2025, after a referral from the Electoral Commission. The Met said it was linked to section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, which says that it is an offence to conceal or disguise the person or entity who is making a political donation.
The news is a further blow to Reform and Nigel Farage, who have faced serious questions over finance since the Guardian revealed an undisclosed gift of £5m to Farage from the cryptocurrency entrepreneur Christopher Harborne. It comes as Farage prepares to fight a byelection boycotted by the other parties after he stood down in his Clacton constituency this week.
And it will add to questions facing Fiona Cottrell, who has not responded to detailed questions from the Guardian about her financial involvement with Reform. She refused to comment about the donation currently under police investigation, the Times reported. She is understood to be of relatively modest means, and yet has donated a total of £1.75m to Reform UK and its fundraising vehicle Britain Means Business.
Lawyers acting for George Cottrell refused to answer detailed questions from the Guardian about his financial ties to his mother.
The police investigation may also mount further pressure on Reform's leadership to account for the nature of the financial and professional relationship between her son and Farage, including claims that he described himself as "chief of staff" to the party leader and bankrolled party expenses from dinners to VIP transport. Reform says George Cottrell has never had an official role in the party.
The Guardian has previously asked whether George Cottrell is an impermissible donor, as he is resident in Montenegro. His lawyers have said he is a permissible donor, but refused to explain how this was the case.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire