A former councillor has been sentenced to 20 weeks in prison after being found guilty of stalking prominent Conservative MP Dame Penny Mordaunt.
Court Hears of 'Creepy' Behaviour and Fears
Edward Brandt, 61, was convicted at Southampton Crown Court for a campaign of harassment against the former Tory leadership candidate. The court was told that Dame Penny, 52, provided a statement to police in which she said the defendant's actions left her in fear of "sexual violence", describing his behaviour as "creepy".
The stalking occurred between 11 September 2023 and 12 May 2024. During this period, Brandt bombarded the MP for Portsmouth North with numerous communications. The prosecution detailed that he sent at least 17 emails and three phone messages. He also visited her constituency office in Portsmouth outside of normal operating hours.
Acquittal and Consecutive Sentence for Breaches
Brandt was acquitted of a more serious stalking charge, which alleged his actions had caused serious alarm or distress. However, he faced additional consequences for breaching a stalking protection order.
The divorced father-of-two, who worked as a professional sailor, was also sentenced for seven breaches of a stalking protection order in December 2025. The order is in place until November 2034. The breaches involved failing to notify police about devices that could access the internet and creating accounts on social media platforms Facebook and Snapchat.
Final Sentencing and Outcome
For the stalking offence itself, Edward Brandt received a 12-week prison sentence. A further eight-week sentence was imposed to run consecutively for the breaches of the court order, resulting in a total custodial term of 20 weeks.
The case highlights the serious legal repercussions for stalking and the breach of court orders designed to protect individuals from harassment. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the impact such behaviour has on public figures and the judicial system's approach to enforcing protective measures.
