Ann Widdecombe murder suspect drove 300 miles to Brexit veteran's bungalow with 'foot-long stick’

Neighbours claim the man from Yorkshire, who was arrested by police, was struggling to come to terms with the death of his father

The man suspected of murdering Ann Widdecombe drove nearly 300 miles to her home with a “foot-long stick” on the day of her death, neighbours have revealed.

The suspect, 28, was arrested by police at a former council house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Saturday night.

It comes two days after Ms Widdecombe was found dead at her bungalow in Haytor, Devon, after sustaining severe head injuries.

Investigators believe Ms Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP and Brexit Party MEP, died at about 12.30pm on Wednesday. She was found by authorities on Thursday at 11.40am.

However, CCTV footage shared with authorities shows a man leaving a property in the Kimberworth Park suburb of Rotherham.

He then drove off in a red Vauxhall Corsa just before 7am on the morning of Ms Widdecombe’s passing, The Telegraph reports.

One neighbour who had seen the video said the man had an item underneath his T-shirt that looked “like a wooden stick or an iron bar, about a foot long”

The source added: “He seemed calm… and there is nothing to suggest anything unusual was happening.

“The car was normally left outside for long periods, so it just stood out that he was driving away so early in the morning.”

Officers said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the murder that was neither politically motivated nor terror-related.

But Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, of Devon and Cornwall Police, stressed “detectives remain open-minded about the potential motive” after the force received 120 reports of information from the British public.

Chief Constable James Vaughan said their work in recent days was an example of “British policing at its very best”.

Neighbours claim the man from Yorkshire, who is understood to be one of three brothers, was struggling to come to terms with the death of his father before Christmas.

One said: “The others moved out, so he was living on his own… He seemed to change because he became even more introverted.

“You would barely see him — to the point where you’d presume the house was unoccupied. Now and again you’d see the upstairs light on, but that was it.”

Forensic officers were searching the house for evidence this evening, while colleagues guarded the cordon outdoors and towed the rusted Vauxhall away.

According to The Times, one of the man’s brothers is said to be serving in the armed forces.

A Mass was held in memory of Ms Widdecombe at Buckfast Abbey, where she was a frequent worshipper.

Meanwhile, Reform UK politicians – including the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice – paid tribute to Ms Widdecombe today by laying flowers during a vigil at Dartmoor National Park.

Mr Tice told the crowd of more than 50 people Britain had lost “a national treasure”.

Reform UK is now reviewing emails sent to Ms Widdecombe, the party's immigration and justice spokesman, in the weeks before her death in search for any threats against her life.