A university staff member faces charges from authorities following allegations of expressing a desire for Ann Widdecombe to suffer a painful death. Heather Herbert, aged 50, is accused of making the statement on social media, where she reportedly mentioned it was “good news” that the former Cabinet Minister had passed away, and expressed a wish for her to endure agony while handcuffed to a bed.
The contentious posts were reportedly shared on Bluesky before it was revealed that Ms. Widdecombe’s death at her Dartmoor residence was being investigated as a murder. Initially, Police Scotland stated there was no criminality in the comments, but later disclosed that Herbert had been charged with an offense.
Specifics of the charge will be disclosed during Herbert’s initial court appearance. A police spokesperson mentioned receiving reports on July 11, 2026, regarding an online post, leading to the arrest and charging of the 50-year-old individual. The case details will be presented to the procurator fiscal.
Aberdeen University, where Herbert is employed as a web developer, is also addressing the remarks. The institution’s Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter Edwards, emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards violence or hateful conduct and assured that the comments were under urgent investigation.
The university spokesperson clarified that the views shared are solely those of the individual and do not reflect the university’s stance. They reiterated the university’s disapproval of violence or hateful behavior and confirmed cooperation with Police Scotland in their inquiries.
Furthermore, the Scottish Greens are reportedly reviewing the comments. Herbert, who joined the Scottish Greens in late 2021 after being associated with Scottish Labour, is under scrutiny for her statements.
Ann Widdecombe, discovered deceased at her Haytor, Devon home at the age of 78, had a distinguished political career, briefly serving as a Brexit Party MEP and later becoming a spokesperson for Reform UK. She was found in her kitchen after allegedly being deceased for 24 hours.
A 28-year-old suspect from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of Widdecombe’s murder and is currently undergoing questioning. The individual, facing additional accusations of terrorism-related offenses, could be detained for up to seven days without charge as investigations continue.
The announcement from Police Scotland coincided with a poignant moment at the Conservative Political Action Conference GB, where former Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Liz Truss, 50, emotionally paid tribute to Ann Widdecombe, highlighting her principled nature and dedication to values such as free speech and patriotism.
