Security Guard Jailed for Plotting to Harm TV Presenter Holly Willoughby

A security guard, Gavin Plumb, has been sentenced to a minimum of 16 years in prison for his sinister plot targeting television personality Holly Willoughby. Plumb’s disturbing intentions were revealed in court at Chelmsford Crown Court, where Justice Murray branded his plans as sadistic and grotesque.

The 37-year-old from Harlow, Essex, was exposed after unknowingly sharing his horrific scheme with an undercover officer in the online chatroom ‘Abduct Lovers’. Despite his denials, the court found Plumb guilty of soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape over a period spanning from 2021 to 2023.

During sentencing, Justice Murray emphasized the profound impact Plumb’s actions had on Holly Willoughby, both personally and professionally. Plumb, who appeared emotionless in court, will serve a life sentence, with a minimum term of 15 years and 85 days before being eligible for parole.

The court heard how Plumb meticulously planned to abduct, rape, and murder the former This Morning presenter, procuring tools and substances like chloroform. Prosecution lawyer Alison Morgan KC described his fixation on Willoughby as an ‘obsession’, detailing his chilling intentions to inflict extreme harm.

Plumb’s spree of horrifying messages and plans detailed scenarios too graphic to be openly discussed in court. Notably, he deliberated forcing Willoughby to record a video under duress, falsely claiming consent to the heinous acts he planned to commit.

Despite arguing that his statements were fantasy and expressing regret, Plumb’s disturbing track record of attempted kidnappings in 2006 and false imprisonments in 2008 painted a pattern of violent behavior. His defense lawyer, Sasha Wass KC, highlighted Plumb’s ineptitude in executing his elaborate schemes.

Ultimately, the judge concluded that Plumb’s actions were more than mere fantasies and reflected a deeply rooted predatory nature that endangered society. The case serves as a harrowing reminder of the real-world implications of online discussions turning into dangerous realities.