"It is totally harmless" - Man stalking Dame Penny Mordaunt just wanted to 'congratulate' her, court hears
A Conservative voter accused of stalking Dame Penny Mordaunt insisted he just wanted to 'congratulate' her on her political work, a court heard today.
Edward Brandt, who was allegedly 'fixated' on the ex-Tory Portsmouth North MP, told police that his interest in her was 'purely political and congratulatory'.
The 61 year old said 'I am not about to commit sexual violence' and said allegations of stalking were a 'mountain of a molehill'. He told officers during an interview that some of his messages to Dame Penny were only so he could congratulate her on a speech.
Southampton Crown Court has heard that Brandt stalked the MP from between September 2023 and May 2024, bombarding her with messages and voicemails.
On one occasion in December 2023 Brandt went to Mordaunt's office in Lakeside and tried to jump the barrier - before being stopped by security, a court heard.
Mordaunt, 52, was in tears in court as she said Brandt was 'fixated on me and the way I looked'. She said she had to get colleagues to walk her to and from her car, change her office security and stop using public transport due to Brandt's actions.
He insisted that he just wanted to 'shake her precious and gold plated hand' and get her to sign a copy of her book.
Brandt was wearing a white shirt and a red gilet in court. He is charged with stalking causing serious alarm or distress.
Brandt said in a police interview in May 2024: "I thought that her witness statement was fundamentally inaccurate and I felt aggrieved by it.
"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.
"She has come out with all this stuff and it could not be more inaccurate if it tried. Everything she said in that statement is wholly inaccurate.
"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.
"Do you think that seems aggressive or threatening?
"Now I know what she has said it won't happen again. Her saying she is terrified - that is an obvious exaggeration.
"When she loses her seat she will not be able to do this at all. She is going to lose her seat if you look at the press.
"I haven't got a clue where she lives. It is wholly inaccurate. My interest is purely political and congratulatory."
The trial continues.