The man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe travelled 200 miles to firebomb Nigel Farage’s home a year earlier, a court heard today.
Joshua Kerry, 28, is said to have left the Reform UK leader’s front door frame ‘hanging off’ when he tried to force his way inside armed with a bottle of lighter fluid.
Mr Farage’s partner Laure Ferrari returned home to find the damage and the discarded bottle in the porch on April 20 last year.
Kerry, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, is charged with one count of preparing terrorist acts relating to alleged activity between May 31, 2024, and July 8, 2026.
He is separately charged with murdering Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister Ms Widdecombe, 78, who died on July 8 after she was hit over the head with a hammer 21 times.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro's newsletter or get alerts the moment it happens.
Prosecutor Kashif Malik told Westminster Magistrates’ Court today Kerry is accused of carrying 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’.
He said: ‘On April 28, 2025, the partner of Nigel Farage came home and discovered damage had been caused to the front door.
‘Half the wooden door frame was hanging off. A bottle of lighter fluid was in the porch.
‘The scene was forensically examined. A toolmark was found on the frame that originated from a 27mm single bladed edge.
‘The inference was made that an attempt was made to gain entry to the house.’
Wearing a grey tracksuit, Kerry spoke only to confirm his identity.
Ms Widdecombe was attacked at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, a court previously heard.
In August, counter-terror police reopened a year-long probe into an alleged attack at Mr Farage’s home in south London.
The Metropolitan Police and CTP London said they investigated the incident as an ‘attempted burglary’ but made no arrests before the case was closed pending any new lines of inquiry.
Following its reopening, CTP London identified a line of inquiry which it said ‘may have been relevant’ but had not been ‘identified and pursued by them at the time’.
Kerry will next appear at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
MORE: Royal GP ‘beaten and strangled to death by husband’ during children’s sleepover
MORE: Man jailed after $8,000,000 scam in first of its kind case
MORE: First man to be executed after Christa Pike speaks out hours before he is given injection