Tearful Penny Mordaunt 'feared for her safety after stalker jumped office barrier'

DAME Penny Mordaunt sobbed in court yesterday as she claimed an infatuated stalker had bombarded her with emails and calls - and even jumped over the security barrier at her office.

- BY CHARLIE BRADLEY

The former House of Commons leader, 52, tearfully told a jury that Edward Brandt, 60, had left her “feeling very vulnerable”.

The former MP said Brandt, a Conservative Party member, tried to form a “personal relationship” with her as he allegedly subjected her to a campaign of stalking.

Brandt allegedly ignored a police warning and continued.

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He also said he wanted to shake her “precious and gold-plated hand” to praise her for her work, prosecutors said.

Brandt jumped the barrier at her office and Ms Mordaunt had to bolster her security, it was heard.

Ms Mordaunt appeared at Southampton Crown Court, where she was left in tears explaining how “drained” she felt.

She also said that the alleged stalking had taken a toll on her entire team, as well as her foster child, who was told not to open the front door out of fear that Brandt would come to her address, which he said he knew in an email, the court heard.