A former local councillor has been sentenced to 20 weeks in prison for stalking prominent Conservative politician Penny Mordaunt. The court heard that the persistent behaviour left the former cabinet minister with a profound fear of “sexual violence.”
Stalker Jailed After Campaign of Harassment
Edward Brandt, 61, a professional sailor, was found guilty of stalking the high-profile MP. While he was acquitted of the more serious charge relating to stalking that caused serious alarm or distress, the impact of his actions on Mordaunt was clearly noted by the sentencing judge.
The stalking campaign, which spanned from September 2023 to May 2024, involved Brandt sending a barrage of communications to Mordaunt. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Brandt sent at least 17 emails and three phone messages to the MP. Critically, his behaviour extended beyond digital communication, as he was also found to have visited her Portsmouth constituency office outside of normal working hours.
Fear and Security Concerns
In a harrowing victim impact statement provided to the police, Penny Mordaunt detailed the severe psychological toll the stalking had taken. She stated that she “feared sexual violence” due to Brandt’s “creepy” conduct. The situation escalated to the point where Mordaunt reportedly had to significantly enhance her personal security measures, including after the stalker reportedly jumped a barrier at her office premises.
Mordaunt described the constant anxiety: “I am completely exhausted due to the stress. Every time I step out of the building I am looking over my shoulder and checking to see if he is there. I am living in a constant fear of a confrontation.”
Breach of Protection Orders
Brandt’s legal troubles were compounded by multiple breaches of existing legal safeguards. In addition to the stalking conviction, the former East Hampshire district council member was sentenced for seven breaches of a stalking protection order that was put in place until November 2034. These breaches involved failing to notify authorities about devices capable of connecting to the internet and the creation of new accounts on social media platforms like Facebook and Snapchat.
The court heard that Brandt had previously ignored a verbal warning from the police and had failed to comply with the terms of a conditional caution issued in April 2024. This caution specifically required him to complete a victim awareness course and cease all contact with Mordaunt. Following this, he left two further voicemail messages for the MP, one of which included the chilling declaration: “I am going to go on gently knocking at your door in order to shake your hand, I am not giving up.”
The Defence and Sentencing
Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Brandt, who resided on the Isle of Wight at the time of the initial offences and now lives in Lymington, Hampshire, attempted to frame his actions as politically motivated and harmless. He claimed he only wished to “congratulate her” and shake her “gold-plated and precious hand,” insisting his intention “was entirely political and entirely harmless.”
His defence counsel argued that Brandt’s responsibility was substantially reduced due to diagnosed mental health conditions, specifically ADHD and being on the autism spectrum, citing his neurodiverse condition as a mitigating factor.
However, Judge Mousley was unconvinced that immediate imprisonment was not required. In delivering the sentence, the judge stated: “I am satisfied that there is a real risk of you reoffending or causing harm to other people. Also, having regard to the nature of these offences, the appropriate punishment must be by way of immediate imprisonment.”
Brandt received a 12-week sentence for the stalking offence, with an additional eight weeks ordered to run consecutively for the breaches of the protection order, totalling 20 weeks behind bars. This case serves as a stark reminder of the security challenges faced by elected officials in the UK and the severe consequences for those who cross the line into criminal harassment.
