Holly Willoughby ‘kidnap and rape plot’ trial – 7 things we learnt including ‘buying cable ties’

The trial of a man who allegedly conspired to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby has begun.

Former shopping centre security officer Gavin Plumb was arrested last October and has remained in custody. He is charged with and denies soliciting murder and incitement to kidnapping and rape between October 2 and October 5 in Harlow, Essex.

The former This Morning host, who has waived her right to anonymity, was alerted to the alleged plot just moments before going on air to present This Morning on October 5. Her co-star Alison Hammond stepped in for her on the show, shortly before she quit the ITV programme after 14 years presenting.

Gavin Plumb was charged on October 6 for the alleged plot and appeared in court in November for the plea and trial preparation hearing. The ex-Pizza Hut worker is accused of having contact with a “third party” in America to abduct and kill the Dancing on Ice star.

The trial kicked off at Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex on Monday (June 24). As the case continues, Daily Star is taking a look at the most explosive details heard by the court.

Plumb had ‘obsession’ with Holly for years, court hears

Gavin Plumb allegedly had an “obsession” with Holly Willoughby “that had developed over a number of years”, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC claimed. She said Plumb “set out his plans and sought to encourage” David Nelson, an undercover cop from the US who was monitoring an online group called “Abduct lovers”, “to commit the offences with him”.

The barrister added: “The defendant’s plans as to what he would do to Holly Willoughby were graphic and were obviously sexually motivated. They were real to him, members of the jury, and were based on an obsession with Holly Willoughby that had developed over a number of years.”

The prosecutor later informed jurors of Gavin Plumb’s previous offences which they claim indicates that he “knew how to terrify and overpower a woman”. Prosecutor Morgan KC continued: “[Gavin’s] earlier offences… tell you that this defendant knew what it would take to terrify and overpower a woman.

“He was someone who had done this for real, not just as a fantasy,” she claimed.

Plumb shared ‘deep fake’ graphic images of Willoughby, prosecution claims

Later on in the trial, it was claimed by the prosecutor that Gavin Plumb shared “deepfake pornography images of Holly Willoughby” online with a person named “Marc”. The barrister said these were “using her (Ms Willoughby’s) face, putting it onto the body the body of another female to give images of her in pornographic situations”.

Ms Morgan KC added: “They were highly sexualised.” She told Chelmsford Crown Court that Plumb informed “Marc”: “It’s been my ultimate fantasy for way too long. Fantasy isn’t enough any more. I want the real thing.”

Plumb discussed attacking other celebs, jury hears

Jurors were shown alleged chat logs between Plumb and “Marc” where attacks on other celebrities were discussed. Ms Morgan said: “The defendant and Marc went on to discuss further attacks against other celebrities following on from his attack.

“You may well think that the idea that they would carry out an attack of the nature on Holly Willoughby and then be able to go on to commit further attacks was somewhat unrealistic on their part. That does not, however, mean that they did not intend what they were planning against Holly Willoughby, however ambitious that may have been.

“If it had all been a fantasy, from which they both derived some fort of sexual pleasure chatting about the idea of it, then there was no need to discuss practicalities and the problems that might arise. And indeed the defendant made it clear to Marc that this was not just a fantasy. On January 6, 2022, he said to Marc that he had ‘wanted this for years. I’m going to be living out my ultimate fantasy’.”

Plumb’s Holly discussions ‘not just a fantasy’, court hears

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC alleged Gavin’s online discussions were “not just the ramblings of a fantasist”. She told the court: “The prosecution’s case is that the online discussions that this defendant had revealed his real intention to carry out a plot to kidnap Holly Willoughby from her family home, to take her to a location where she would be raped repeatedly, before the defendant then intended to kill her.

“It’s not just the ramblings of a fantasist. This defendant had carefully planned what he would do and how he would do it, purchasing items that would assist him in carrying out that attack.”

Plumb planned ‘home invasion’, court hears

In February 2022, Plumb allegedly told “Marc” that a “home invasion” may be the best way to target the star while wearing masks, the court heard. Prosecutor Morgan explained: “The defendant described exactly what he wanted to do to Holly Willoughby, the defendant said, ‘… getting her has been my ultimate fantasy for way too long. I’m now at the point that fantasy isn’t enough anymore. I want the real thing’.”

She continued: “When he was arrested, an examination of the defendant’s phone revealed that he was a member of various online groups that had a “preoccupation with abduction and kidnapping”. She later told the court that Plumb bought 400 metal cable ties online back in April 2022 ahead of the alleged plot.

The prosecutor told the jury that Plumb “purchased four lots of 100 pieces in the context of all of that chat of the need to tie up and restrain Holly Willoughby”. The barrister added that they were “described as heavy duty, they’re cable ties.”

Plumb planned ITV tour to get to Willoughby, court hears

Taking things one step further, the court heard how Gavin Plumb talked about the “possibility of getting on to a tour at the ITV studios to get close to (Holly Willoughby)”. Prosecutor Morgan told the court how the defendant also talked about his plans to work as her security guard.

She told the court that Plumb said in online communications: “I passed my SIA licence so I might try to use it to be her security.” The barrister described these as some of “the sorts of ways the defendant thought he might get close to Holly Willoughby.”

In March 2022, the defendant allegedly wrote that he’s “not stopping this” and claimed he would be “staking out Holly myself”. Posting on an online forum, he allegedly added: “I’m getting her regardless if I have to get a new team or do it myself.”

Plumb plotted to keep star in ‘dungeon’, court hears

The court heard how Plumb allegedly discussed the timing as to when Holly Willoughby was likely to travel from her home to the studio. The prosecutor said: “Again, if it is suggested by this defendant that all of his discussions were nothing more than a fantasy, you will want to consider the extent to which he had considered the detail of how this attack would be carried out and his persistent.”

In June, he allegedly wrote: “I’ve also found the possibility of a few abandoned places in the UK that’s out of London.” The security guard described the place where she would be kept as a “dungeon”, Ms Morgan claimed.

Marc allegedly replied that her “screams could not be heard for miles” after the defendant shared an image of the room.

The trial continues.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk