A jury has found an Essex man accused of plotting the kidnap and murder of ITV presenter Holly Willoughby unanimously guilty on all three counts. Gavin Plumb, 37, of Potters Field in Harlow, has been on trial accused of trying to solicit and commission the kidnap and murder of Ms Willoughby in October 2023.
The charges indicate the defendant is accused of planning to assemble a “kidnap and restraint kit” and encouraging a third party to travel to the UK to carry out the alleged offences. Plumb was arrested at his home address on October 4 last year, at the time when Ms Willoughby was still presenting the ITV show This Morning.
Following the arrest, Ms Willoughby was safeguarded and a week later, she announced she would be stepping down from the show after presenting it since 2009. The defendant, who has denied three charges, is accused of trying to arrange for Ms Willoughby's kidnap and murder with other users of online chat forums.
Plumb's trial began at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday (June 24), and heard that Plumb had allegedly been planning his kidnap and murder of Ms Willoughby for multiple years. He had engaged in conversations online with others sharing degrading messages about the presenter, and detailing plans about how he would kidnap her from her family home.
The jury has also heard that he had bought a "kidnap kit" including metal cable ties, ankle restraints, handcuffs and other materials used for restraining someone. Additionally, he had purchased two bottles of chloroform.
The court heard evidence from an undercover police officer based in the USA who had been drawn to Plumb's messages in a group called "Abduct Lovers" online. The officer became concerned for Ms Willoughby's safety and believed there to be an "imminent threat" to her, and he believed Plumb would carry out his attack "with or without the offcer's services".
The court also heard evidence from Gavin Plumb himself, who claimed that his messages about Ms Willoughby were "just chat" and he would not have acted on his words. The jury heard Plumb explain how his weight fluctuated over the years and at one point he could barely move at 35 stone without losing breath.
Plumb stated he had "no ill feelings for Holly Willoughby" at all and he never believed the men he was talking to online would come to the UK to carry out the kidnap.
EssexLive will be in court for the trial and will bring you live updates from the case as they take place each day in our blog below. Stay with us for the latest as it happens for day seven of the trial today as closing speeches take place.
Live updates below.
Key Events
Gavin Plumb's police custody picture released
Essex Police have released Gavin Plumb's custody picture, taken after his arrest.
'He wanted to commit unspeakable violence'
Nicola Rice, specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, has praised Holly Willoughby's bravery throughout the case.
Gavin Plumb is a dangerous man who plotted unspeakable violence against one of the nation’s most familiar faces. Despite his attempts topass himself off as a harmless fantasist, the prosecution persuaded the jury that Plumb posed a very real threat.
The chilling details of his plans were laid bear with the help of an undercover officer from the US who alerted the FBI to the threat, and the seriousness of Plumb’s scheme was exposed when the prosecution successfully applied to tell the jury about Plumb’s previous convictions.
I hope his conviction brings some comfort to Holly Willoughby and her family and shows others that the Crown Prosecution Service will always seek the strongest possible charges against those who plot violence against women.
Gavin Plumb is a 'dangerous, predatory individual' says inspector
In a statement, Essex Police’s Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood said:
Gavin Plumb is a dangerous, predatory individual who was intent on causing the most serious harm to his victim.
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. Plumb also had a history of attacking other women, attempting to kidnap them using weapons and threats of violence.
He is a dangerous man and I have no doubt he was determined to carry out the acts he planned. Today, we are extremely grateful to our law enforcement colleague in America who not only brought Gavin Plumb to our attention, but helped gather the vital evidence that secured his conviction.
We would also like to thank the victim who has courageously supported this case throughout and bravely waived her anonymity. Today, Gavin Plumb remains where he belongs – behind bars.
Plumb will be sentenced next week
Mr Justice Murray has thanked the jury for their efforts in the case and has discharged them. He said the amount of time they took to deliberate meant they took their role “very seriously”. He told Plumb that he will be remanded in custody until his sentencing hearing on Friday next week.
Plumb continued to cry as he was taken away to the cells.
Plumb cries in dock as jury returns verdict
Plumb has broken down crying in the dock following the guilty verdicts from the jury of eight women and four men. He will be sentenced at the same court next Friday, July 12.
PLUMB IS GUILTY
Gavin Plumb has been found unanimously guilty on all three counts by the jury.
Jury sent home for the day
We have no verdicts to share today, as the jury have been sent home. We will resume deliberations at 10.30am tomorrow.
One lane reopens
One lane of the A12 has now reopened following the crash, but delays remain. There is queuing traffic back to junction 29 with the Crown Interchange.
Jury resumes deliberations
Good morning all - we're back in Chelmsford Crown Court today as we await a verdict from the jury.
Jury sent home for the day
The jury has been sent home, they will resume deliberations at 10.30am tomorrow.
Jury retires to consider their verdicts
The jury has now retired in Gavin Plumb's trial for deliberations. As soon as we hear any updates, we will share them in this blog.
Judge moves to summing up Plumb's evidence
The judge has summarised the prosecution case and has now moved onto the defence case, recapping everything said by Plumb in the witness box.
Judge resumes summing up after court's lunch break
The judge has resumed his summing up following the court's lunch break. He is going over some of the chats between Gavin Plumb and other men online about his ideas for Holly Willoughby's alleged kidnap plan.
Judge begins summing up
The judge Mr Justice Murray has now begun his summing up the case to the jury. All of the details he will be sharing will be ones we have already reported, so there will be less new updates to share from what he says.
Court takes a break
The court has taken a 15 minute break before the judge begins his summing up.
Defence closes speech
Ms Wass is picking apart holes in her defendant’s own alleged plan to kidnap Ms Willoughby. She said that the wall around her property would be “difficult for someone of athletic build”, whereas Plumb had difficulty breathing on occasion; “He could not possibly have hopped over that wall”.
Ms Wass also shows a pair of handcuffs owned by Plumb and part of his “kidnap kit”, claiming they are not police-issue or a “practical solution” to keep someone hostage, but they “look good when posted on a website”.
She also said that taking Holly Willoughby in a car to his own flat was “completely absurd”. Ms Wass added: “He became obsessed with a celebrity who he had never met and had no intention of meeting and shared those similar interests with people online.
Ms Wass said the prosecution case “relies entirely on the texts” and that the “proper” verdict the jury should find is not guilty.
Plumb 'never thought he had a chance of success'
Plumb believed his fantasy of Holly Willoughby’s kidnap was “so fanciful” that he never thought he had a chance of success, the defence tells the jury. Ms Wass reminds the jury of the burden of proof required for criminal trials, saying they “must be sure that it was a reality” before they convict Plumb.
She said: “The planning was part of the fantasy. But he admitted it was dark but he never planned to be taken seriously. The defendant said the plan was so fanciful that it had no chance of success.”
"Nothing more than fantasy"
Ms Wass has briefly touched upon the “kidnap kit” Plumb had assembled, including handcuffs, ankle restraints and metal cable ties. She said: “This wasn’t meant for real kidnapping, but sexualised role play.”
Regarding the online group “Abduct Lovers” where Plumb had been posting, Ms Wass said: “All of the other people were mere fantasies. Mr Nelson accepted that while these messages [from other users] were distasteful, they were nothing more than fantasy.”
Undercover officer was "helping it happen"
Ms Wass claims that the undercover US-police officer David Nelson was encouraging Plumb with his fantasy, rather than Plumb soliciting him. She said: “You will see it’s Mr Nelson who offers help and offers to progress the plan.
“The date and time was entirely sorted by Mr Nelson himself. Mr Nelson was not obstructing a criminal offence, but he was helping it happen.”
Gavin Plumb is an “isolated and lonely” individual who could never have carried out his plan, Ms Wass tells the jury. She said: “I am sure you were horrified by all the messages read out and the messages you read yourself.
“[He was an] isolated, lonely individual who lived out his fantasy life online. He had neither the means or opportunity to carry out any of the things in his chats. It would have failed before it even began; it was not meant to be carried out.”
'It was all a fantasy'
Sasha Wass KC has begun her address to the jury by insisting to them that Gavin Plumb was merely living out a fantasy online. She emphasised it was “twisted”, but it was “a fantasy nonetheless”.
She said: “When Mr Plumb spoke about what he wanted to do to Holly Willoughby when he referred to her as a tease, and a home invasion and sex, what he was doing was living out a fantasy.
“It was a dark and twisted fantasy, but a fantasy nonetheless. It was made clear the moment police entered his house to arrest him.” Ms Wass references the comment by Plumb to the officers that Holly Willoughby was “a fantasy of mine”.
Defence closing speech begins
Good morning all - Chief Reporter Ellis Whitehouse once again here in Chelmsford Crown Court for Gavin Plumb's trial. The defence closing speech by Sasha Wass KC has begun, more updates will follow shortly.
Prosecution concludes
In her final words to the jury, Ms Morgan said: “This defendant is intent on making this happen. He told Marc again and again he was going to attempt this at some point with or without others. He knew it would be a far more likely and effective plan that he could recruit others to the cause.”
Ms Morgan added that the jury is not to decide if Plumb could succeed in his plan, but whether it was his intent, and she said his intent is best summed up by his comment in October 2023 to the police officer of “s***, it’s really happening”.
That concludes the prosecution’s closing speech. We will return at 10.30am tomorrow for the defence’s speech.
“Prolific liar” and “sly” individual
Gavin Plumb is a “prolific liar” and “sly” individual, the prosecution tells the jury. Ms Morgan said it is “crucial” the jury consider how they feel when Plumb shares his explanations to the jury.
She said: “I suggest to you that he is a prolific liar and that he’s tried to minimise the extent of his criminality to you, and if you agree with that, what does that tell you when he stands there and tells you it’s all just fantasy?
“Your impression on him and what you believe when he stands there and says that is crucial. If this was all just a fantasy that was never intended, you have to think this was precisely the thing he wanted to make clear to the police when arrested.
“I suggest what you see in front of you is a sly individual. He knows what he has hidden away and what he has written on his phone. When he’s being arrested for the kidnap of Holly Willoughby, he said ‘not gonna lie she’s a fantasy of mine’.
“Don’t under-estimate this defendant.”
Chloroform 'stashed in home'
We’ve moved on to the chloroform that Plumb bought and had stashed in his home, which he alleged he had bought to “clean a stain on his carpet”. Ms Morgan said: “It’s obvious why he wanted chloroform, there is no stage where he thinks he is going to clean his carpets with it.
“He’s checking how to buy it, he’s checking how long it keeps someone unconscious for.” Ms Morgan also questions why Plumb has 400 steel cable ties kept at his home, saying there is “no real reason” for him to have them.
‘This was just chat’
Ms Morgan said Plumb has no option but to claim his words shared about Holly Willoughby are “just words”, as he has no other excuse. She said: “All this defendant can say is what he said in his evidence. ‘This was just chat’. I can expect you to hear that. ‘Just fantasies, just words, all just a fantasy of a sad, lonely and overweight man’.
“That’s what I predict is coming in suggestions to you. That he could never have seriously offended because he can’t even drive, that he was too overweight, he could never have climbed that wall, that he wasn’t right about a lack of CCTV, and that he hadn’t found another address that he could take Holly Willoughby after the kidnapping.”
"Disgusting" content
We’re moving through more of Plumb’s messages with the man called Marc from Ireland. In particular, Ms Morgan refers to an exchange where Marc asks Plumb “how long he’s been wanting to rape” Ms Willoughby, with Plumb replying “between two and three years”.
Ms Morgan said: “This is obviously a discussion with the defendant about wanting to kidnap and rape. He is wanting Marc to be involved in it. It’s obvious from what he is saying.
“You could open this on a page at random and you would find disgusting content, yes, but planning and encouragement to Marc and others.”
'Even the most graphic fantasies was never enough'
Ms Morgan argues that for Plumb, his fantasy had “crossed the threshold” into reality. She continued: “He is a man who plainly gained sexual arousal from planning real sexual violent attacks on women. He was someone that had done it in real life. Watching pornograpy was never going to be enough.
“Just messaging others about what he might like to do to Holly Willoughby and other celebrities was never going to be enough. Because even the most graphic fantasies that he shared on that ‘Abduct Lovers’ Kik group was never enough for a man like Gavin Plumb. He had already crossed the threshold from fantasy to reality. He had terrified real women.”
Plumb's four words he shared to undercover police officer
Ms Morgan tells the jury they will be confident that Gavin Plumb truly intended to carry out a kidnap, rape and murder of Holly Willoughby from four words he shared to the undercover officer; “S***, it’s really happening”.
She said: “Those were the defendant’s words when he realised that another person who he believed to be called David Nelson was genuinely prepared to join him in his plan to attack Holly Willoughby. When he believed that David Nelson had just booked a flight from the United States to this country to join in that attack, he didn’t say ‘don’t do that, I was just kidding’.
“He didn’t say ‘this is just fantasy, you haven’t just bought a flight have you?’ He didn’t say any of these things, members of the jury. He said these four words; ‘S***, it’s really happening’.”
Prosecution begins their closing speech
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC has begun her closing speech to the jury.
Legal directions continuing
We're still hearing from the judge about his legal directions following the court's lunch break. We should get underway with the prosecution closing speech soon.
