Gavin Plumb jailed for life over Holly Willoughby kidnap, rape and murder plot

Security guard Gavin Plumb has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years at Chelmsford Crown Court for hatching a plot to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby.

The plot had a “life-changing” impact on Ms Willoughby, the court heard.

During Plumb’s sentencing hearing on Friday, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said Ms Willoughby wished for her victim personal statement to be private.

She continued: “The impact of this offending has been life-changing for the victim of these offences – both in private and personal terms – private, personal and indeed professional.

“It is clear… that the extent of the shock and fear caused by this offending has been impossible to convey.”

The judge said that, less the time he had already served on remand, the minimum term would be 15 years and 85 days for soliciting the murder of Ms Willoughby and incitement to rape and kidnap.

Plumb, 37, who stood as the sentence was read out, initially showed no reaction but as he was led to the cells he made the comment to the dock officer and made an exasperated gesture raising both his hands.

Plumb spent years fantasising about abducting the TV host at her family home, taking her away to a secluded dungeon, and subjecting her to repeated rapes and torture.

He “worshipped and was obsessed” by Ms Willoughby and was “devastated to be the cause of such pain to her”, his defence barrister said at the sentencing hearing on Friday.

Sasha Wass KC, mitigating for Plumb, said that the defendant “worshipped and was obsessed by Ms Willoughby for a period of years, admittedly in a warped and bizarre manner”.

“A manner which he described as dark when he gave evidence,” she added.

Ms Wass continued: “He was devastated to be the cause of such pain to her as she described in that very detailed statement (which Ms Willoughby chose to submit to the court privately).”

She said Plumb “remains embarrassed and ashamed”, and said he “always expected” the online conversations that formed the focus of the trial “would remain private”.

Referring to Plumb’s online messages with a man named Marc, Mr Justice Edward Murray said the plans he outlined for Ms Willoughby were “particularly sadistic, brutal and degrading”.

The judge added: “There is no doubt that if you had genuinely found one or more accomplices who were seriously interested in and had been willing to join you in carrying your plan through then you would have put this plan into action.”

Damning online chat revealed Plumb’s plan would end with Ms Willoughby’s murder, with her body being dumped in a lake.

Plumb, a shopping centre security guard who spent much of his life online and once weighed 35 stone, insisted his words were meaningless – the “ramblings” of a lonely fantasist.

But a jury at Chelmsford crown court convicted him of a genuine attempt to carry out the warped plot.

The judge sentencing Plumb said Ms Willoughby is a “well-known and well-loved public figure” but is “entitled to respect for her private and family life”.

Mr Justice Edward Murray said he had read Ms Willoughby’s victim personal statement, the contents of which are private but were shown “only to those who needed to see”, including Plumb.

The judge said he had “carefully read” Ms Willoughby’s statement, adding: “I simply note I am satisfied these offences have had life-changing consequences for her both privately and professionally.”

He praised the “considerable courage” Ms Willoughby displayed by waiving her right to anonymity in the case.

He said he had “no doubt” the security guard’s plans for Ms Willoughby were “considerably more than a fantasy”.

Mr Justice Edward Murray said: “I have no doubt that this was all considerably more than a fantasy to you.”

The judge continued: “Your plan was hopelessly unrealistic for a number of reasons – including your poor physical health – but you clearly thought it was feasible.

“Although you talked about carrying out the plan on your own, I am sure that this was simply bravado.

“You always intended to carry out your plan to kidnap, rape and kill Ms Willoughby, but only if you could find the right man or men – the right ‘crew’ as you sometimes called it – to help you do it.”

A woman who Plumb tried to falsely imprison in a shop in 2008 said that hearing details of the defendant’s plot to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby “made her think about what could have happened to her if she hadn’t been able to run away”.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC described a victim impact statement from the woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous.

The barrister told Chelmsford Crown Court that the woman “felt a permanent sense of worry” that “she would bump into him when he was released” from prison.

“Hearing of these matters has made her think about what could have happened to her if she hadn’t been able to run away from him, thankful as she is it didn’t turn out worse,” said Ms Morgan.

The prosecution said Plumb had plans that were “so depraved and vile” that they were not reported by the media.

Turning to the offending of the 37-year-old, Alison Morgan KC said: “My Lord knows of the extreme and gratuitous degradation of the victim that was planned by this defendant.

“Degradation that was so depraved and vile that they were, by agreement, not reported in detail by representatives of the media.”