A British security guard has been found guilty of orchestrating a plot to kidnap, rape and murder UK television presenter Holly Willoughby.
Over the course of two years, Essex man Gavin Plumb meticulously planned how he would kidnap the This Morning presenter from her home — even going as far as to purchase a kidnap kit for the purpose, jurors heard.
However, the 37-year-old's plans were foiled when he was arrested in October 2023 after unwittingly revealing the kidnapping to an undercover US police officer.
Essex Police's senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood called Plumb a "dangerous man" upon his conviction on Thursday.
"Gavin Plumb is a dangerous, predatory individual who was intent on causing the most serious harm to his victim," Chief Inspector Wood said.
"He was not just simply obsessed with Holly Willoughby, he meticulously and carefully planned, over a number of years, to carry out a depraved and violent attack, in which he plotted to deprive her of her liberty and ultimately her life.
"His claims in court that he was a 'fantasist' are simply not true and were evidenced by the extent with which he plotted with others to carry out his wicked plan."
The BBC had previously reported Plumb told arresting officers: "I’m not going to lie, [Holly Willoughby] is a fantasy of mine."
'I will be forever grateful':Willoughby
Willoughby thanked authorities involved in the case, in a statement seen by the BBC and Sky News.
"I will forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response," she said.
"I would also like to commend the bravery of his previous victims for speaking up at the time. Without their bravery this conviction may not have been possible."
The ABC has reached out to Willoughby's representatives for comment.
Following the arrest of Plumb, Willoughby quit the ITV morning program after 14 years, saying it was a decision for "me and my family".
Plumb secured isolated building and chloroform
The Chelmsford Crown Court trial heavily revolved around Plumb's activity in online forums, dating to 2021, where he laid out his kidnapping plans.
Plumb would discuss how he planned to restrain Willoughby and even purchased equipment to assist him including metal cable ties, ropes and chloroform, Essex Police said.
In some messages the 37-year-old told potential accomplices that he plotted to kidnap Willoughby at night, using chloroform to incapacitate her, before forcing her to film a video to say she had gone with Plumb of her own "free will".
In his graphic and violent posts, Plumb also discussed how he had found out where she was filming, and had discovered an isolated building to take her to, Essex Police said.
Foiled by an undercover investigation
Plumb continued plotting his attack as he began chatting to another man on the online forum.
But what he did not know was that the man was an undercover officer in the US, who had already contacted both the FBI and British Police.
On October 4, 2023, Essex Police said Plumb was arrested at his home, where officers found two bottles of chloroform and the kidnap kit.
Jurors were also told that Plumb had a string of previous convictions related to the false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping of other women, including two 16-year-old girls.
Plumb was remanded in custody.
He is set to be sentenced in July for soliciting Willoughby's murder, kidnapping and rape.
