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Aberdeen University worker charged after making online post 'wishing Ann Widdecombe a painful death'

Heather Herbert, 50, a web developer at Aberdeen University, has been charged in relation to posts on Bluesky made before it emerged that Ms Widdecombe's death was being investigated as murder

[Heather Herbert]

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Heather Herbert, 50, has been charged by police in connection to social media posts she allegedly made about Ms Widdecombe (Image: Heather Herbert/Facebook)

A university worker has been charged by police after being accused of wishing Ann Widdecombe "an extremely painful death".

Heather Herbert, 50, is accused of posting the comment on social media, where she also allegedly claimed it was "good news" the former Cabinet Minister had died, adding she hoped she was "handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony.

The posts were allegedly published on Bluesky last week before it was announced that Ms Widdecombes death at her Dartmoor home was being treated as murder. Police Scotland had previously said the comments contained "no criminality, before announcing on Thursday that they had charged Herbert with an offence.

[Ann Widdecombe]

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Ann Widdecombe was found dead in the kitchen of her home in Haytor, Devon, last Thursday(Image: Christopher Jones/Shutterstock)

Details of the charge will be made public at Herberts first court appearance. A spokesman for the force said: "We received reports on Saturday 11 July 2026 relating to a post made online. Following further assessment, a 50-year-old has been arrested and charged in connection. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

Aberdeen University, where Ms Herbert works as a web developer, is also looking into the comments. Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter Edwards, said earlier this week the university has a zero-tolerance approach to "violence or hateful behaviour", and gave his assurance the comments were being investigated "as a priority".

A spokesman added: "The comments that have been shared are entirely the individuals own and do not represent the views of the [university]. We do not condone violence or hateful behaviour in any form. We are co-operating with Police Scotland as they carry out their inquiries and cannot comment further.

[Ann Widdecombe's house]

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Ms Widdecombe lived in an isolated cottage with her cat in Devon(Image: Getty Images)

The Scottish Greens are also said to be looking into the comments. Ms Herbert joined the Scottish Greens in late 2021 after previously being a member of Scottish Labour.

Ms Widdecombe was found dead in her home in Haytor, Devon, last Thursday aged 78. The veteran politician, who was also briefly a Brexit Party MEP before becoming a Reform UK spokesperson, is believed to have lay dead in her cottages kitchen for 24 hours before she was found.

A 28-year-old suspect, from Rotherham, South Yorks, was arrested on suspicion of Ms Widdecombe's murder on Saturday and is still being questioned. The man, who cannot be named, was re-arrested on Monday accused of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, and as a result he could be held for up to seven days without charge while police carry out their investigations.

[Liz Truss speaking on stage at the CPAC GB event in London on Thursday morning]

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Liz Truss speaking on stage at the CPAC GB event in London on Thursday morning(Image: Getty Images)

The Police Scotland announcement came just hours after former Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Liz Truss, 50, broke down in tears on stage as she led a tribute to Ann Widdecombe during a speech in London. Speaking about the former Tory MP, at the Conservative Political Action Conference GB, Ms Truss said: Before we start on this conference, I'd like to take time to pay our respects to the late Ann Widdecombe, who was brutally murdered in her home last week."

She added: I've known Ann for over 20 years. She was a deeply principled politician who stood for the very values we are fighting for at CPAC: free speech, patriotism and the family. She was courageous and fearless in standing up to the leftist drift we have seen in Britain. She was a kind and generous human being, and we are all so devastated that she has been taken from us. Now let's reflect on Ann's remarkable life."

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