US police officer blocked man’s plan to abduct and kill Holly Willoughby, court told

A criminal who had been found guilty of committing violent crimes had planned to abduct, sexually assault and kill Holly Willoughby, but was stopped by a hidden police officer located in the United States, as stated in court.

Gavin Plumb, a 37-year-old man, was fixated on the TV host, collecting over 10,000 pictures of her on his phone, including fake pornographic images. He had meticulously plotted to kidnap her from her house, transport her to his home in Harlow, Essex, and kill her in a deserted building, as reported in Chelmsford Crown Court.

The jury heard that Plumb has been convicted in the past for trying to kidnap and imprison others. In 2006, he used a fake gun and a threatening note to try to get two women off a train. Then, in 2008, he tried to restrain two teenage girls in a stock room at Woolworths.

The guard had purchased cable ties and a pocket knife, and seemed to have obtained chloroform for his assault on Willoughby. He had also participated in explicit and sexually driven conversations about the intended attack online, according to the prosecution.

The dad had no idea that one of the people he was talking to was actually a secret police officer from Owatonna in Minnesota. The officer informed authorities in the UK, which led to Plumb being arrested on October 4, 2023.

Plumb is facing charges of asking for someone to commit murder, aiding or abetting in a kidnapping, and aiding or abetting in a rape. He says he didn't do any of those things.

When presenting the case, the prosecutor Alison Morgan explained to the jury that the defendant had detailed and clearly sexually motivated plans regarding Holly Willoughby.

He truly believed in them and they stemmed from his infatuation with Ms Willoughby that had grown over several years.

"She made it clear that it was not just the thoughts of someone with wild imagination," she said.

Plumb had found out about Willoughby through social media and had been keeping an eye on her online posts and whereabouts, Morgan explained. The prosecutor also mentioned that Plumb had firsthand experience with violence against women.

In court on August 14, 2006, it was revealed that the accused had intimidated a woman on a train by showing her a violent and frightening message.

After two days, the court was told that he tried to do the same thing again with a fake gun, but the person he targeted did not agree to leave the train with him. Plumb was taken into custody and was discovered to have a fake gun, ropes, and several notes.

In November 2008, Plumb was employed at a Woolworths store in Harlow. He used a knife to intimidate two 16-year-olds into going to the stock room, where he tied one girl's hands. The other girl managed to escape and alert someone for help.

"These crimes were truly committed against actual women, with the defendant threatening and attempting to control and hold them captive," Morgan explained to the jury.

Plumb had been strategizing about targeting Willoughby for a while now, according to Morgan.

The lawyer mentioned that the defendant has shown a clear obsession with Holly Willoughby through explicit messages, with a disturbing and depraved tone.

In December 2021, Plumb had already found out where Willoughby resided and sent pictures of her house to someone online known as "Marc".

During talks with Marc, Plumb mentioned that the lane next to Willoughby's house could be a suitable location for staging an ambush, according to testimony given to the jury.

"Morgan informed the jury that Marc and the defendant sent explicit pictures of Willoughby to each other during their conversations."

Plumb posted pictures of Willoughby's house and talked about a "break-in" while wearing masks. He also talked about the design of the property, the gates, security cameras, and the alley next to the house.

"I've been dreaming about having her for a really long time. Now, fantasy just isn't cutting it anymore. I need the genuine experience," Plumb told Marc. He also purchased a pack of 100 metal cable ties on Amazon.

Plumb talked about finding "deserted locations" around London, attempting to join a tour of the ITV studios, and using his security officer experience to land a job with Willoughby.

The jury listened to a recorded message from Plumb where he discussed his "strategy", which involved choosing clothes he liked from the woman's wardrobe.

During the trial, it was revealed that he looked up where to find chloroform and sent pictures to Marc indicating that he had created some of the substance. The jury was informed that a bottle believed to contain chloroform was discovered at the defendant's residence.

In a different recording played in court, he talked about an "empty building" and said, "We're going to do surveillance and take care of it, things are happening as planned."

In 2023, a police officer from Owatonna was secretly investigating people online on different social media platforms and apps.

He was keeping an eye on discussions in a group named "Kidnap Enthusiasts" on 3 October 2023. The group was actively discussing the abduction, torture, and killing of people.

Using the username "BigBear", Plumb shared photos of Willoughby, who the officer did not know at the time, and bragged about her safety precautions. The officer was troubled by the specific information provided in the defendant's posts, according to the court.

In court, he admitted to sexually assaulting Willoughby at his house and then disposing of her body.

The person being accused of a crime had sent a video to the police officer, which showed various items on a bed, such as fetish objects. These items were later discovered at the defendant's home, according to what was revealed in court.

On 4 October of the previous year, after communicating with other officers from the FBI and the Metropolitan police, the officer contacted them and Plumb was taken into custody on the same day.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that when the allegations were presented to him, he admitted: "I have to be honest. She is someone I have always fantasized about."