Penny Mordaunt's 'creepy stalker' says he is 'harmless' and only wanted to 'congratulate' former Conservative MP
A 61-year-old man accused of stalking former Conservative MP Dame Penny Mordaunt has claimed his actions were 'harmless'.
Edward Brandt is accused of stalking the Tory leadership candidate between 2023 and 2024, which left her fearing she would be a victim of 'sexual violence' because of the defendant's 'creepy' behaviour.
Brandt - a Conservative Party member - sent multiple emails and phone messages to Ms Mordaunt as well as turning up at her Portsmouth office out of hours in a bid to meet her, Southampton Crown Court has heard
He was arrested on March 24, 2024, and given a conditional caution on April 19, 2024, requiring him not to contact Dame Penny. But he then left two voicemail messages for her on May 6 and 11.
In one of the messages, Brandt said: 'I am going to go on gently knocking at your door in order to shake your hand, I am not giving up.'
He also failed to comply with other terms of the conditional caution which required him to complete a victim awareness course, the trial heard.
Brandt was made subject to an interim stalking protection order at Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on July 16, 2024.
In police interview after Brandt was arrested on May 12, 2024, he said that he had tried to contact her again in the two voice messages because he wanted to 'set the record straight'.
Edward Brandt, 61, is accused of stalking former Conservative MP Dame Penny Mordaunt
The former Tory MP (pictured) feared she would be a victim of 'sexual violence' because of the defendant's 'creepy' behaviour
He said: 'I am not about to commit sexual violence or stalk or sit on her doorstep. It is totally harmless.
'It is an almighty sledgehammer to crack a little nut. I still want to set the record straight as it could not be more inaccurate if it tried. It is like she is calling me a liar and I am not.'
He added: 'Everything she said in that statement was wholly wholly inaccurate.
'I just want to explain to her what she said was completely untrue, (there was) no malice whatsoever, it's completely harmless, friendly, congratulatory, "Well done you".'
He also said: 'My interest is purely political, purely congratulatory, "well done you", I wanted to get a signed copy of her book, it's a mountain out of a mole hill.'
'I just wanted to explain to her what she said was wrong. This is a mountain of a molehill. I just sent her two 15 second voicemails.'
He added: 'She's getting other people to do her dirty work for her.'
Brandt (pictured) - a Conservative Party member - sent multiple emails and phone messages to Ms Mordaunt as well as turning up at her Portsmouth office out of hours
Earlier, the court heard that Brandt pushed his way through a security gate at Lakeside business park in Portsmouth where Dame Penny had her constituency office on the afternoon of Saturday, December 16, 2023.
Neil Tombs, a security officer, told the court that he saw Brandt scanning a list of companies and said he saw him push through the barrier setting off an alarm.
The court heard that Dame Penny was in her office at the time even though it was the weekend.
Mr Tombs said: 'After I shouted 'Oi, stop' and I started running, at that time he wasn't far from any office, I was trying to stop him going any further.
'He turned around and looked at me that time. He started asking me questions about Penny Mordaunt, that's when I realised her office wasn't that far away.
'I remember him asking when is she here, I said "Monday to Friday only" and "you need an appointment to see anyone here, not just Penny Mordaunt".'
He said he then escorted him out of the building.
The trial continues.
