Holly Willoughby plotter Gavin Plumb jailed - after 'vile' kidnap, rape and murder plan had 'life-changing' impact

A security guard was sentenced to prison for planning to kidnap, assault, and kill television host Holly Willoughby.

Gavin Plumb, 37, was very interested in the former host of This Morning, Willoughby, 43. Willoughby left the ITV show in October after being arrested, ending his 14-year tenure on the program.

Judge Murray explained to Plumb that he had planned to commit a cruel, violent, and humiliating assault on Willoughby, with the intention of hurting her spouse and kids.

He stated that Plumb devised a scheme that was so disturbing, surprising, and detailed that many aspects of the plans were not discussed in public during the trial.

"You pose a threat," he said to him, as he handed down Plumb's sentence of life in prison with a minimum term of 15 years and 85 days.

Lawyer Alison Morgan, who is a Queen's Counsel, informed the court in Chelmsford on Friday that Plumb's behavior had significantly influenced Willoughby's life, affecting both her professional and personal life. However, Willoughby preferred to keep her detailed account of the consequences of his actions private.

But Ms Morgan also stated: "It has been extremely difficult to fully express the magnitude of the shock and fear that this wrongdoing has instigated."

During Plumb's sentencing, Judge Murray expressed his belief that Plumb's actions had a significant impact on Willoughby's life. He commended the TV presenter for her bravery in choosing to reveal her identity in the trial.

The judge said to Plumb: "Your plan was totally unrealistic for many reasons - like your bad physical health - but you believed it could work."

Even though you mentioned handling the task by yourself, I believe it was just a show of courage.

"You always planned to carry out your scheme to abduct, assault, and murder Ms. Willoughby, but only if you could enlist the appropriate man or men - the right 'crew,' as you referred to them - to assist you in this endeavor."

Referring to Plumb's explanation for his actions, the judge also mentioned: "Your statement that you purchased chloroform to clean a tough stain on your carpet was a very obvious and poorly thought out untruth."

Plumb didn't seem to care when he was put in jail, but as he was taken to the cells, he raised both hands in frustration.

Find out how Plumb's actions pushed him into a risky situation with Willoughby and how the security guard's intense fixation on the TV star grew dangerously.

Deepfakes, a scheme to break into someone's home, and a collection of tools for staging a kidnapping.

During his court hearing, it was revealed that Plumb had been engaging in explicit and sexually-charged discussions with individuals online regarding plans to harm Willoughby and other famous figures since December 2021.

He shared many messages with the jury that included deepfake porn images of Willoughby, photos of her house, and discussions about taking time off from his job to execute his plan.

Plumb's plot to kidnap included trying to surprise Willoughby at her house and then bringing her to a different place, which he described as a room resembling a "dungeon."

His intentions were thwarted when an undercover American police officer joined the online group Abduct Lovers and grew suspicious of Plumb's messages.

Plumb informed the officer, pretending to be David Nelson, that he was completely committed to his plan to abduct Ms. Willoughby.

The police officer told the jury he thought that Plumb was a threat to the presenter after they met on the Kik Messenger group.

Plumb mentioned in his messages that he intended to break into Willoughby's home, using chloroform to incapacitate her and her husband, TV producer Dan Baldwin. He planned to restrain them, take Willoughby away, and sexually assault her multiple times.

He showed the officer his collection of tools for kidnapping, trusting him, and mentioned he would kill Willoughby by cutting her throat and then dispose of her body in a nearby lake.

The cop, who promised Plumb he would journey from New York to assist him in executing the scheme, notified the FBI and UK authorities.

When the Essex Police searched Plumb's apartment in Harlow, they discovered bottles of chloroform and a kit used for abductions, including cable ties.

In the video of the arrest, recorded on a police officer's body camera, a shirtless Plumb admitted that he had a crush on Willoughby when informed he was being arrested for planning to kidnap her.

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Plumb cried when the jury found him guilty of asking someone to commit murder and encouraging rape and kidnapping.

During her introduction to the jury, prosecutor Ms Morgan discussed Plumb's past run-ins with the law, including charges of false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping. She argued that these prior offenses demonstrated his understanding of how to intimidate and control a woman.

The crimes included the intimidation of sexual harm towards four separate young women.

Plumb claimed that his ideas for Willoughby were simply conversations and daydreams on the internet.

Sasha Wass KC, speaking on behalf of Plumb during his sentencing, claimed that he was deeply saddened to have caused her so much pain. She stated that he had idolized and fixated on Ms. Willoughby for several years, albeit in a twisted and strange way.

His attorney stated that Plumb still feels embarrassed and ashamed, and he never imagined that the online chats discussed during the trial would be made public.

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Willoughby's response to being found guilty of being a 'predator'

After the trial ended, Willoughby released a statement emphasizing that women should not have to feel at risk while going about their everyday routines or even in their own residences.

She expressed gratitude to the undercover police officer, as well as the Metropolitan and Essex police forces, for their quick action. She also extended her thanks to everyone involved in the case for making sure that justice was served and that the perpetrator will not be able to harm any more women.

"I also want to praise the courage of the victims who came forward before. Without their bravery, we may not have been able to secure this conviction," Willoughby stated.

DCI Greg Wood from Essex Police called Plumb a "manipulative sexual predator" after he was sentenced.

"He attempted to argue during the trial that he was a devoted fan and a daydreamer - that is completely false," he stated.

For two years, he carefully planned the attack on Ms. Willoughby, studying her habits, getting assistance from others, and purchasing tools to harm her.

He mentioned that the situation has highlighted sexism and violence towards women and girls.

It's unacceptable that individuals like Plumb have the opportunity to participate in online platforms where they express their hatred towards women and girls freely and scheme to harm them, he stated.