Ex-Labour candidate and university employee is being investigated after saying she hoped Ann Widdecombe suffered an ‘extremely painful death’

A former Labor candidate and university worker is being investigated after he said he hoped Ann Widdecombe would suffer an ‘extremely painful death’.

Police were informed that Heather Herbert, born Scott Herbert, a trans activist and web developer at the organisation, had posted on Bluesky on Friday saying she hoped Widdecombe had suffered an ‘extremely painful death’.

He wrote: ‘Good news this time. I hope it was a very painful death. I hope he’s handcuffed to the bed while he screams in pain.’

Despite complaints to police, officers confirmed no crime was detected.

A police spokesman said: ‘We have received reports regarding a post made online.

‘The information has been evaluated and no criminality has been identified.’

Herbert is also the former Labor candidate for Aberdeen Donside in Scotland.

The University of Aberdeen said: ‘The University is aware of social media posts made by a member of staff regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe and is investigating this as a matter of priority.

His comment led the University of Aberdeen to state that they would conduct an investigation into Herbert.

‘The comments shared are entirely personal and do not represent the views of the University of Aberdeen.

‘Complaints against any member of staff are dealt with confidentially through our established processes.’

According to the Herald, a petition has been submitted to the University of Aberdeen asking for a formal review of Herbert’s comments.

The petition states that the words caused concern among the public.

It also asks the university to review the circumstances surrounding the comments, assess whether they meet professional and ethical standards, and transparently communicate the outcome of any review.

Student newspaper The Gaudie contacted Herbert on Saturday after the posts were published.

He replied: ‘I don’t want to see anyone killed, but I’m still glad he’s dead.

‘I’m not a hypocrite. I wrote this before the murder investigation began.

Widdecombe was murdered at his home on Wednesday last week and was discovered 24 hours later

Police were searching for an address in Rotherham on Sunday and arrested a man on suspicion of Ann Widdecombe’s murder.

‘I am nothing. I have no strength to do anything. Ann Widdecombe did it and made ordinary people’s lives hell.’

Former Conservative MP and media personality Ann Widdecombe has died aged 79.

Police treated the woman’s death as murder after she was found with serious head injuries at her home, and a 28-year-old man was arrested in South Yorkshire in connection with the incident.

Widdecombe was a well-known, socially conservative politician who served as MP for Maidstone for 23 years and as a government minister under John Major.

Later in his career he moved into television, appearing on shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, then returned to politics as a staunch Brexit supporter, serving as a member of the European Parliament and later representing Reform UK.

It comes after it was revealed today that a man is believed to have traveled nearly 300 miles to the 79-year-old former MP’s Dartmoor home on the morning he died on Wednesday.

Neighbors claimed they saw him place ‘some sort of wooden stick’ on the passenger side of a red car before driving off.

Police were continuing their search today at the home of the man arrested by armed police on suspicion of killing Miss Widdecombe last night.

Forensic experts remain at the mid-terrace address on council land in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, while uniformed officers stand guard outside.

Forensic officers were seen entering the house after it was confirmed there was no evidence to suggest the murder was politically motivated.

Floral gifts were left on the lawn outside her home, including a framed photograph of Mrs Widdecombe

Neighbors said around a dozen armed police knocked loudly on the door after surrounding the property last night, an hour before the start of England’s World Cup match against Norway.

The suspect, one of three siblings described by locals as a ‘loner’ and who had rarely left home since his father’s death last year, answered the door and was arrested.

One of the man’s brothers is believed to live in Devon, while the second brother and his mother are also said to live in the area.

This afternoon the house was cordoned off and guarded by police, with a dark blue tactical support unit, another police van and a four-wheel drive police vehicle parked outside.