Man weeps as jury finds him guilty of stalking Dame Penny Mordaunt

An ex-councillor has been found guilty of stalking Dame Penny Mordaunt but acquitted of the more serious offence of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

- by News Reporter

A jury convicted Edward Brandt of the lesser charge following a trial at Southampton Crown Court which heard that the former Portsmouth North MP feared “sexual violence” and believed the 61-year-old was a “real threat”.

The jury returned the guilty verdict by a majority of 10 to two after considering the case for around four hours yesterday.

Brandt wept and held his hands over his face after the verdicts were returned by the jury.

Judge William Mousley KC adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Brandt and released him on conditional bail until the sentencing hearing on January 16.

He said: “You will be sentenced on Friday January 16, a pre-sentence report will be prepared by the Probation Service.”