A former district councillor has been sentenced to immediate imprisonment for a campaign of stalking against the prominent Conservative politician, Penny Mordaunt.
Persistent Harassment and Breached Orders
Edward Brandt, 61, a professional sailor, was sentenced to a total of 20 weeks in prison at Southampton Crown Court. He received 12 weeks for stalking the former Defence Secretary and a further eight weeks, to be served consecutively, for multiple breaches of a stalking protection order.
The court heard that between 11 September 2023 and 12 May 2024, Brandt engaged in a persistent pattern of unwanted contact. This included sending at least 17 emails and three phone messages to Ms Mordaunt. He also attended her constituency office in Portsmouth outside of normal operating hours.
Victim's Fear and Impact
In a statement to police, Penny Mordaunt said the defendant's "creepy" behaviour led her to fear "sexual violence". She described the profound personal impact in a victim statement, stating: "I am completely exhausted due to the stress. Every time I step out of the building I am looking over my shoulder... I am living in a constant fear of a confrontation."
Brandt, a divorced father of two from Lymington, Hampshire, was previously a member of East Hampshire District Council. He had failed to comply with a police verbal warning and the terms of a conditional caution issued in April 2024, which required him to complete a victim awareness course and have no contact with the Tory peer.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
While found guilty of stalking, Brandt was acquitted of a more serious charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. The trial was told he left voicemails for Ms Mordaunt, including one in which he said: "I am going to go on gently knocking at your door in order to shake your hand, I am not giving up."
In his defence, Brandt claimed his intentions were "entirely political and entirely harmless" and that he merely wished to congratulate her and shake her "gold-plated and precious hand". His barrister, Timothy Dracass, argued his client's responsibility was reduced due to a neurodiverse condition, having been diagnosed with ADHD and being on the autism spectrum.
However, sentencing Brandt, Judge Mousley KC 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."
The breaches of the stalking protection order, which remains in force until November 2034, involved Brandt failing to notify police of internet-capable devices and creating new social media accounts on Facebook and Snapchat in December last year.
