Suspect Seen on CCTV Before Ann Widdecombe Murder
CCTV footage appears to show the suspect in the murder investigation of Ann Widdecombe leaving a house with an object in his pocket and getting into a car in Yorkshire hours before the former Conservative minister was believed to have been attacked at her home in Devon.
The man, wearing a white shirt and shorts, is seen entering a red vehicle outside a residence in Rotherham. A long object seems to protrude from his shorts pocket in footage time-stamped at 07:51 on Wednesday. This footage was first reported by the Sun.
Details of the Incident and Investigation
On Thursday, 78-year-old Ann Widdecombe was discovered dead at her home in Haytor, Devon, having suffered serious injuries.
Her death prompted a manhunt that led to the arrest of a 28-year-old white British man in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, at approximately 21:00 on Saturday.
Police continued to question the suspect on Monday.
Devon and Cornwall Police stated there was "nothing to suggest" the murder was politically motivated.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said officers remained "open-minded" regarding a possible motive and indicated there was no known threat to the wider public.
Flower tributes were left outside Ann Widdecombe's home on Saturday.
Timeline and Location Details
Devon and Cornwall Police previously indicated that Widdecombe was attacked on Wednesday at around 12:30.
The distance between Widdecombe's home in Haytor and Rotherham, where the suspect was arrested, is approximately 270 miles (430 km), roughly a four-and-a-half-hour drive.
At least two police vehicles were observed outside a property in Rotherham believed to be connected to the investigation on Sunday. The area was cordoned off while officers and forensic teams conducted their work.
Neighbourhood Reactions
Speaking to on Sunday, one neighbour described the police operation:
"I was making some food in the kitchen and looked out the window, there was loads of banging, and there was armed police in the pathway and they just went into the house and pulled [the suspect] out."
Another neighbour reported that police removed a red car from the driveway.
Background on Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidstone for 23 years. She held ministerial positions in Sir John Major's government between 1994 and 1997.
After leaving the Commons in 2010, Widdecombe appeared on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing that same year and was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother eight years later.
In 2019, she joined the Brexit Party and represented South West England as its Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2019 to 2020.
Community Tribute
On Sunday, approximately 40 mourners gathered in Haytor Vale to pay tribute to Ann Widdecombe.
- Police say no suggestion of political motive in Widdecombe killing after new arrest
- Village in shock as 'horrific' Ann Widdecombe murder case unfolds
- Ann Widdecombe murder probe: What we know so far
