LONDON, July 21 - The man accused of murdering former government minister Ann Widdecombe struck her 21 times on the top of her head with a hammer during the attack at her home earlier this month, prosecutors told a London court on Tuesday.

Widdecombe, 78, who was a prominent figure in Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK but no longer a member of parliament, was found at her home in rural southwest England on July 9 after being attacked the day before.

Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old white British national from northern England, appeared at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with her murder. He was not asked to enter a plea.

Prosecutor Kashif Malik said a camera inside Widdecombe's home had captured the incident, during which she had been repeatedly hit with a hammer.

Widdecombe had been due to be interviewed live on television on July 8 from her home but did not appear, Malik said. The following day, her personal assistant asked her gardener to check on Widdecombe, and he found her on the kitchen floor.

Malik told the court that footage recovered from the camera showed Kerry enter Widdecombe's home where she was eating lunch and ask her: "Don't suppose you have bank cards and ID?"

Kerry then hit Widdecombe with a hammer 21 times, before taking her wallet and leaving, Malik added. REUTERS

Murdered ex-UK minister Widdecombe was struck with hammer 21 times, London court told