Ex-Councillor Sentenced to 20 Weeks for Stalking Dame Penny Mordaunt
A former councillor has been sentenced to 20 weeks in prison for stalking ex-cabinet minister Dame Penny Mordaunt. Edward Brandt, 61, received this sentence after being found guilty during a trial at Southampton Crown Court in November.
Details of the Case Against Edward Brandt
Brandt was acquitted of a more serious stalking charge that stipulated causing serious alarm or distress. However, the court learned that Dame Penny Mordaunt viewed Brandt as a genuine threat. She expressed concerns about potential sexual violence stemming from his “creepy” actions.
Timeline of Stalking Incidents
- Brandt sent at least 17 emails and three phone messages to Dame Penny.
- He visited her constituency office in Portsmouth outside of official hours.
- The dates of his harassment spanned from September 11, 2023, to May 12, 2024.
Breach of Conditional Caution
In April 2024, Brandt was given a conditional caution that mandated him to attend a victim awareness course and cease contact with Dame Penny. Nonetheless, he violated this order by leaving voicemail messages on May 6 and May 10, claiming he would continue attempting to meet her.
Subsequent Legal Actions
Following his breaches of the conditional caution, Brandt was also subjected to an interim stalking protection order at Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court. This legal action took place on July 16, 2024.
Brandt’s history includes a background as a professional sailor and he is a divorced father of two. His actions and the court proceedings reflect the serious nature of stalking and its impact on victims.
This developing story is being updated, and further details will be provided as they become available through reputable news sources such as El-Balad.
