New details have emerged about the background of the man arrested in connection with the murder of former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, as investigators continue to examine what may have led to the fatal attack.
Joshua Kerry, who remains under investigation in connection with the case, is understood to have worked for a lift company in 2022 and had been living alone in a council house in Kimberworth Park, Rotherham, following the death of his father last year.
Kerry has been arrested in connection with the investigation but has not been convicted of any offence. The allegations against him remain subject to ongoing criminal proceedings.
According to the Daily Mail, Kerry previously took part in a charity fundraiser organised by his employer, where he was photographed attempting to guess the number of Easter eggs in a jar.
The image is said to be one of the few publicly available photographs of him before his arrest.
The newspaper reports that Kerry had spent recent years caring for his father, Paul Yates, who had worked as a research engineer in the steel industry.
Relatives described Yates as a “highly intelligent” man who had suffered significant health problems later in life.
He had lost a leg, stopped working and was diagnosed with stomach cancer in his 60s.
Family members said Kerry regularly drove his father to shops and appointments while acting as one of his main sources of support.
According to Kerry’s aunt, his father’s death in December last year had a profound impact on him.
She told the Daily Mail that Yates had been admitted to hospital before unexpectedly dying.
Describing the effect on Kerry, she said it had been “a nasty setback”.
Following his father’s death, Kerry is understood to have remained living alone at the family’s council property in the Kimberworth Park area of Rotherham.
Neighbours have previously described him as someone who rarely left the house following the loss of his father.
Those descriptions have come from local residents speaking to newspapers and have not been independently verified by police.
The Daily Mail also reports that Kerry was born in Rotherham and was brought up by his mother, Siobhan, a teaching assistant, after his parents separated.
He was raised alongside an older brother and a half-brother.
Police have not commented publicly on Kerry’s family background or personal circumstances, and have not suggested that the death of his father forms part of their investigation.
Detectives remain focused on establishing the events surrounding the death of Widdecombe, who was found with fatal injuries at her home near Haytor on Dartmoor.
Police believe the former Cabinet minister was attacked shortly after 12.30pm before her body was discovered the following day.
Officers have continued to withhold details of the evidence gathered during the investigation, saying releasing operational information could prejudice future proceedings.
They have confirmed that searches have taken place in both Devon and South Yorkshire and that specialist officers continue to examine forensic evidence, CCTV, digital material and witness accounts.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman has repeatedly urged the public to avoid speculation while enquiries remain ongoing.
He has said there is currently no confirmed evidence that the attack was politically motivated or linked to terrorism, although detectives continue to keep all potential motives under review.
Tributes to Widdecombe have continued from across the political spectrum, with colleagues remembering her decades of public service and outspoken campaigning.
Meanwhile, investigators continue to build a detailed picture of the suspect’s movements, background and circumstances in the period leading up to the fatal attack.
The latest reports about Kerry’s employment history and family life provide additional background but do not form part of the formal evidence disclosed by police.
The investigation remains ongoing, and Kerry remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty in court.
