Moment Ann Widdecombe suspect caught on CCTV ‘with wooden stick’ hours before ex-MP was killed

This is the extraordinary moment the prime suspect for Anne Whittacombe's murder was caught on CCTV leaving his home just hours before the politician was found dead with severe head injuries at her home more than 250 miles away.The driveway footage shows the 28 year old man now arrested by police getting into a red hatchback with a large object described by neighbours as a wooden baton protruding from a pocket.He left his home shortly before 8am last Wednesday and is suspected of driving 267 miles to the 78 -year -old's home on Dartmoor.Police say Anne died after being attacked at her bungalow in the remote village of Hayter at 12 .30pm that day.This is the police scene behind me here in Rotherham where police arrested a 28 -year -old man on suspicion of murdering politician Anne Whittacombe.A number of unmarked police cars were joined by a police SUV and armed cops.

They went inside, arrested the man, handcuffed him in the garden and pulled him out, putting him into the back of a police van and taking him away.It's understood that he will be transported from here in Rotherham down to Devon and Cornwall police station where he'll be interviewed in the coming hours and days in relation to the murder of Anne Whittacombe.Now we already know that Anne was interviewed on Talk TV at 8am on Wednesday, just after the suspect being held by police for her murder set off from home.Anne was due to appear later on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show at 1pm.We also know that she replied to a text message from a producer at 12 .19 and was due to link up via a Zoom meeting at least half an hour later.but never appeared.

The police believe that that times the murder at around 12 .30 and it was over 24 hours later that her body was found.in blood from severe blunt trauma, was discovered by a carer who wanted to check in on her just to make sure she was okay.That carer raised the alarm and police began a huge murder probe and launched an immediate manhunt.And that manhunt led here to this red brick council house in Rotherham, where on Saturday night, shortly before 10pm, a fleet of police cars, both marked and unmarked, swooped on the property to arrest their prime suspect for the killing, the murder of Anne Whittacombe.Officers, both armed and plain clothed, entered the property via the front and the back and moments later their suspect was led out into the front garden where he was handcuffed and then walked to a nearby police van and placed in the back.He was driven away to a nearby police station and it is believed that he has been transported now from South Yorkshire, from his home in Rotherham, towards Cornwall where he will be formally interviewed over his knowledge and understanding of Anne Widdicombe's very last moments.

I'm in front of a memorial to Anne Widdicombe just half a mile or so from her home where she was murdered four days ago.This afternoon we've had some senior reform politicians Richard Tice, Zia Youssef, Danny Kruger and Lee Anderson come along to pay their respects in front of a crowd of a few dozen mourners and fans and local people who knew Anne Widdicombe from this area because she was a big part of the community.Overnight a 28 year old man from Rotherham in South Yorkshire was arrested on suspicion of her murder.It's the second time a white British national has been arrested.An initial suspect, a 26 -year -old man from Newton Abbott, just seven miles away from this sleepy part of Devon, was arrested and then released with no further action taken against him.Yesterday, Nigel Farage told reporters here in Devon.

that he believed the attack was premeditated.He revealed for the first time that a car had pulled up onto Miss Whittacombe's driveway just five minutes before Devon and Cornwall Police say she was brutally attacked.As a reminder, she was found in her home in a pool of blood.Officers at first are believed to have feared it was an accident or some sort of medical incident.It later transpired after an assessment by a pathologist that she had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, and that prompted the start of a murder inquiry.Elsewhere today, a special service was held at Buckfast Abbey just 20 minutes or so away.

It's a Roman Catholic church where Anne attended on and off for several years.Mourners there said she was part of the community and would often be seen at post -mass coffee meetings talking to locals about anything and everything.They said she was a great socialiser, a great listener, and said that most of all they had lost a friend and someone who they could always confide in.Earlier today Mr Tice made the point that MP security is becoming a really serious issue.Lee Anderson said that he didn't want round -the -clock security for Reform MPs but it has been introduced for that party and of course this will spark a wider debate about how safe politicians in this country are.

Our investigation is the death of 78 -year -old Anne Whittacombe has continued to develop over the past 24 hours.Shortly after 9pm on Saturday the 11th of July a 28 -year -old white British man was arrested and addressed in Rotherham, South Yorkshire on suspicion of the murder of Ms Whittacombe.We were supported by officers from Counter -Terrorism Police North East and South Yorkshire Police who carried out the arrest on behalf of Devon and Cornwall.Ms Whittacombe's family have been informed of the updates and continue to be supported by our special forces.Our thoughts remain with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.At this point there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism related incident and at this point we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this murder.

We retain primacy of this investigation and detectives remain open -minded about the potential motive.At this stage there is nothing to suggest that it was politically motivated.A call is still in place as officers continue inquiries at the scene and we anticipate that this will be the case for the next few days.The local community can also expect to see a heightened police presence in the coming weeks to provide reassurance to them.However, I wish to reassure you that we do not have any information to suggest that there is any wider threat to the public at this time.We're grateful to our colleagues in South Yorkshire for the assistance that they provided and they'll continue to support us through our investigation.

Over the past few days, we've received in excess of 120 reports of information to assist us in our investigation into our major incident public portal.I'd just like to thank all those who've taken the time to contribute that information and ask anyone who has not yet submitted any information that they hold to do so as a priority.We're aware of online and public speculation, particularly with regards to motive.Again, I urge people not to share or engage with that speculation.It's unhelpful.It doesn't aid our investigation and particularly it's distressing to the family and friends of Miss Whiddicombe.

Thank you first of all to Matt, the senior investigating officer, and the wider teams here in Devon and Cornwall that have mounted an extraordinary response to a horrific murder of a very prominent public figure.The support that Devon and Cornwall Police has received from our colleagues and our partners, both in the region and nationally, has been second to none.The operation has been running at a lightning pace for 48 hours and I am really pleased that we have a suspect firmly in custody and that will undergo some further work from us today.Well done to all.This is clearly British policing at its very best.Thank you to media colleagues for your patience and working with us over the last two days, allowing us to focus on the most important thing here, which is to catch a dangerous man and bring him to justice.

My appreciation to you for that.Thank you.And finally, my thanks also goes to the public in giving us the information that we need to progress this investigation.and I reiterate the ongoing message and direction around speculation and how unhelpful and how that can hinder a major investigation of this nature.Thank you everybody and thank you to the teams.