Edward Brandt, a 61-year-old former Conservative councillor, was found guilty of stalking Dame Penny Mordaunt, the former Conservative cabinet minister and leadership candidate, following a tense trial at Southampton Crown Court. While the jury acquitted him of the more serious charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, their majority verdict of 10 to two left Brandt visibly shaken—he wept and buried his face in his hands as the decision was read out, according to BBC and Sky News.
The case has gripped political circles and the public alike, not only because of Dame Penny’s high-profile status but also due to the disturbing nature of Brandt’s campaign of unwanted contact. The court heard that between September 11, 2023, and May 12, 2024, Brandt sent at least 17 emails and three phone messages to Dame Penny. He also appeared at her Portsmouth constituency office out of hours, in one instance even attempting to jump the security barrier in December 2023, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Dame Penny, who served as MP for Portsmouth North from 2010 until losing her seat in 2024, described the ordeal as deeply unsettling. In a statement to police, she said she "feared sexual violence" due to Brandt’s "creepy" and obsessive behavior, a sentiment echoed in her courtroom testimony. "It is clear that this is not a normal pattern of behaviour and it is obsessive. I became increasingly concerned about his behaviour in the wake of his visit to my office. I found them obsessive and creepy. There was no doubt in my mind that he was a potential danger to me," she told the jury, as cited by Daily Mail.
The impact on Dame Penny’s daily life was profound. She told the court that she had to ask colleagues to walk her to and from her car, change her office security, and stop using public transport. The constant threat, she said, was unlike other, more explicit threats she had received during her 14 years in Parliament. "The difference between this case and even threats to shoot me and my family [is that] they are easier to deal with because that threat is not constantly present. It's not something you are having to think about every single day when you are leaving your house. I believe this man was a real threat to me and still is," Dame Penny testified, as reported by BBC.
Brandt’s campaign continued despite legal interventions. In April 2024, he was issued a conditional caution requiring him to complete a victim awareness course and not contact Dame Penny. Nevertheless, he left two voicemail messages for her on May 6 and May 10, 2024. In one of these, he stated: "I am going to go on gently knocking at your door in order to shake your hand, I am not giving up." This persistence led to an interim stalking protection order being imposed at Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on July 16, 2024, according to Sky News.
Brandt, who had lived on the Isle of Wight and later in Lymington, Hampshire, is a divorced father-of-two and a former professional sailor. He served as a councillor for East Hampshire District Council and was diagnosed with ADHD and being on the autism spectrum, facts that emerged during the trial. Brandt’s defense throughout the proceedings was that his intentions were "entirely political and entirely harmless." Explaining his actions to the court, Brandt said, "I wanted to commiserate with her for not getting the top job in the autumn, I think she would still have been prime minister if she had been. I wanted to congratulate her because she was a reforming leader of the Commons, I wanted to congratulate her on the coronation, chat to her about her time in office, have her sign a copy of her book. It was entirely political and entirely harmless." He also stated, "I wasn't getting a reply, I harmlessly kept trying," referencing the lack of response from Dame Penny’s office to his requests for a meeting.
Despite Brandt’s insistence that his motives were innocent, Dame Penny and the prosecution painted a picture of a man whose behavior crossed the line from persistent to dangerous. She described his fixation as not just about a handshake or an autograph, but as an obsession with her personally, including references to her appearance and an apparent desire for an intimate relationship. The impact extended beyond Dame Penny herself—she testified that it affected her team and her foster child, to whom she had to explain not to open the front door out of fear that Brandt would appear at her home, which he had indicated he knew the address of in an email.
The verdict was delivered on November 14, 2025. Brandt’s emotional reaction in the courtroom underscored the seriousness of the outcome for both defendant and victim. Judge William Mousley KC adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report and released Brandt on conditional bail until the sentencing hearing scheduled for January 16, 2026. "You will be sentenced on Friday January 16, a pre-sentence report will be prepared by the Probation Service," the judge stated, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The case has also prompted broader discussion about the safety of public figures, particularly women in politics. Dame Penny’s testimony highlighted the often-overlooked psychological toll that stalking can take, even when no explicit threats of violence are made. Her experience serves as a stark reminder that persistent, unwanted contact can be deeply damaging and disruptive, forcing victims to change their routines, increase security, and live with heightened anxiety.
Brandt’s conviction comes in the context of increasing awareness of the risks faced by MPs and other public officials. In recent years, incidents of harassment and threats against politicians have risen, leading to calls for better protection and support. While the legal system did not find Brandt guilty of the more severe charge of causing serious alarm or distress, the jury’s verdict affirms that his conduct was nonetheless criminal and unacceptable.
For Dame Penny, the ordeal is not yet over. The sentencing in January will determine what consequences Brandt will face for his actions. In the meantime, the case stands as a sobering illustration of the personal vulnerabilities that come with public service and the importance of robust legal protections for those who serve in the public eye.
As the political world watches the outcome, Dame Penny’s case may well prompt further reflection on how best to safeguard elected officials—and to ensure that those who cross the line from political engagement to harassment are held accountable.
