Simply now
By Lewis Adams, Laura Foster, BBC Information, at Chelmsford Crown Courtroom
Getty PhotographsA safety guard has been discovered responsible of plotting to kidnap, rape and homicide tv presenter Holly Willoughby.
Gavin Plumb assembled a instrument package for extremely sexualised violence towards the previous This Morning presenter to fulfil his “final fantasy”.
The 37-year-old from Harlow, Essex, was arrested and charged after he unwittingly disclosed his plans on-line to an undercover police officer within the US.
Plumb denied soliciting homicide and inciting kidnap and rape between 2021 and 2023, however has been discovered responsible following an eight-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Courtroom.
The defendant wept within the dock as he was informed he can be sentenced on 12 July.
Det Ch Insp Greg Wooden, of Essex Police, informed the BBC that Plumb was an “obsessive loner” who had assembled “all of the objects he wanted to trigger Holly Willoughby some severe hurt”.
“If the American officer hadn’t have contacted us… I’ve bought little question that Gavin Plumb might’ve gone on to commit some actually horrific crimes,” he added.
Ms Willoughby ended her 14-year stint on This Morning after the offences got here to mild in October 2023.
The trial heard Plumb had assembled a instrument package to commit sexual violence towards the presenter between 2021 and 2023.
He had developed an “obsession” with Ms Willoughby spanning greater than 10 years, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC stated.
Plumb had a “actual intention” to kidnap the broadcaster from her dwelling, “take her to a location the place she can be raped repeatedly” after which homicide her, Ms Morgan continued.
Jurors had been informed that Plumb was arrested after he revealed his plot to an undercover police officer from the US, who he had been speaking to on-line.
