A former councillor has been found guilty of stalking senior Conservative MP Dame Penny Mordaunt, breaking down in tears as the verdict was delivered at Southampton Crown Court.
MP's Fear of 'Sexual Violence' Revealed in Court
Edward Brandt, 61, was convicted by a majority jury verdict of 10 to 2 on the stalking charge, though he was acquitted of the more serious offence of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. The court heard that Dame Penny, a former Conservative cabinet minister, feared "sexual violence" because of what she described as the defendant's "creepy" behaviour.
In a powerful statement read to the court, Dame Penny explained: "I have been a parliamentarian for 14 years and during that time I have had to deal with all kinds of threats and issues. I believe this man was a real threat to me and still is." She became emotional at times during her testimony.
Pattern of Unwanted Contact and Breached Caution
The prosecution detailed how Brandt engaged in a persistent campaign of unwanted contact between 11 September 2023 and 12 May 2024. This included:
- Sending at least 17 emails
- Leaving three phone messages
- Turning up at her Portsmouth constituency office outside operating hours
Brandt, who lived on the Isle of Wight at the time, had previously been issued with a conditional caution in April 2024 requiring him to complete a victim awareness course and not contact Dame Penny. The court heard he failed to comply with these terms.
The divorced father-of-two, now living in Lymington, Hampshire, left two further voicemail messages for her on 6 and 10 May. In one message, he stated: "I am going to go on gently knocking at your door in order to shake your hand, I am not giving up."
Defendant's Claims and Mental Health Considerations
Brandt, who worked as a professional sailor and previously served as a councillor for East Hampshire District Council, claimed his intentions were "entirely political and entirely harmless." He told the court he wanted to meet Dame Penny to commiserate with her for not becoming prime minister, congratulate her on her work as Commons Leader and her role in the coronation, and have her sign a copy of her book.
The defendant, who said he had been diagnosed with ADHD and being on the autism spectrum, explained that he "harmlessly kept trying" because he wasn't getting replies from her office about his meeting requests.
Prior to the criminal trial, Brandt had been made subject to an interim stalking protection order at Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on 16 July 2024.
Judge William Mousley KC has adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and released Brandt on conditional bail until the sentencing hearing on 16 January.
