Former Conservative MP and leader of the House of Commons, Penny Morduent, was forced to increase security at her home and office after she was targeted by a stalker, a jury heard.
Mardount wept in court as she described how Edward Brandt’s alleged assault, which included bombarding her emails and setting up a security barrier in her office, left her reeling.
She told Southampton Crown Court she believed Brandt wanted a romantic relationship with her. Mardaunt said: “The situation upsets me. You always wonder when he’s going to come to your workplace or your street.”
Robert Bryan, prosecuting, said he faced one allegation of passing involving grievous hurt or distress. Brandt denied the charge.
Bryan said: “His victim was Penny Morduent, until 2024 the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth in the Wights and as a resident of the Isle of Wightuath.
“Even if he is an MP, he is entitled to the same legal protection as everyone else. MPS are easily the fear of ordinary members of the public.”
The prosecutor said in the fall of 2023 Brandt called and emailed Mardaunt’s office, asking him for a cup of tea and asking about his security arrangements. Bryan said Brandt Emailed Morduent several times over the coming months asking to meet.
In November 2023 he also sent him a message related to Olympic Diver Tom Daley, that Mardaunt appeared on the television show Splash! in 2014.
Bryan said in December 2023 Brandt tried to jump the hurdles of the constitutional office, prompting alarms. “Security rushed after him and asked him what he was doing,” Bryan said. “It marks a coming of age. He [Mordaunt] was in his office and brought back to his car. “
The police were called and Brandt allegedly said he “just wanted to shake his hand”.
He told him that he would not contact him and said that he understood, listening to him in March 2024 overflowing with a happy everyday – asking for a happy everyday – asking for a day to arrive a day late and asking for his rejections “.
Bryan said that in May 2024 Brandt returned again, saying: “I’m going to keep knocking on your door until you open it.”
Giving evidence, Morduunt said: “He made me vulnerable and I had concerns for my own safety.
“I’m very disappointed that he didn’t listen to the police warning. I think his behavior is inappropriate and it’s disappointing that he wants a personal relationship with me.
“It is clear that all the normal, reasonable requests that have been made are being ignored. I have assessments with the police and the parliamentary security team.
“We had to change the security of the constitutional office and we had to change some of my usual routine, which was known, and I was told not to use public transport.
“I need to change the office security, hide the Office Signage and Change the locks so that we have Personal FOBS to get into the outside of the office that we didn’t have before.”
“The references to my personal appearance only increase my perception that he wants a personal relationship with me.”
The trial continues.