Man accused of conspiracy to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby had “real-life experience of violence against women”, his trial heard.
Gavin Plumb, 37, appeared in Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, after being accused in October of soliciting a man to commit murder, inciting the kidnapping and inciting the rape of the TV presenter.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told jurors that in 2006 Plumb twice attempted to kidnap female victims from a train and had an imitation firearm with him on the second occasion.
She said that in 2008 Plumb approached two 16-year-old girls in a shop in Harlow, “took out a knife and pointed it at them”, before tying one of the girls’ hands.
The 37-year-old security manager at the shopping center is accused of conspiring online with another man – encouraging him to travel from the US to the UK to commit the alleged crimes – and creating a “detailed plan”, including setting up of a “kidnapping”. and containment kit.”
Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, denies all charges.
Ms. Willoughby waived her right to anonymity.
Key points
-
Man goes on trial accused of conspiring to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby
-
Plumb knew how to ‘dominate a woman’, court hears as jurors tell of past real-life attacks
Plumb purchased heavy-duty metal clamps, court hearings
13:16 , Amy-Clare Martin at Chelmsford Crown Court
Jurors were told that Plumb was a member of several online groups that had “concerns about kidnappings and kidnappings.”
In April 2022, he purchased 400 metal cable ties from Amazon, which were described as “heavy duty,” Morgan told the court.
Plumb said the attack was his ‘ultimate fantasy’ and shared fake images, court heard
13:00 , Amy-Clare Martin at Chelmsford Crown Court
Alison Morgan KC told the jury that Plumb had told another online user called ‘Marc’ about his plans.
“The defendant emphasizes to Marc that this was not just a fantasy,” she told Chelmsford Crown Court.
Plumb told the user: “I’ve been wanting this for years. I’m going to live my biggest fantasy.”
He also said: “It’s been my biggest fantasy for a long time. Fantasy is no longer enough. I want the real thing.”
The pair also exchanged fake and “highly sexualised” pornographic images of the star, she told the jury.
The lawyer said they were “using her (Ms Willoughby’s) face, placing it on another woman’s body to provide images of her in pornographic situations”.
Plumb knew how to ‘dominate a woman’, court hears as jurors tell of past real-life attacks
12:32 , Amy-Clare Martin at Chelmsford Crown Court
Plumb, 37, had previously attacked women using a knife and an imitation gun, the trial heard.
Jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court were told how Plumb tried to kidnap women from a train on two occasions in 2006 – once using a fake gun to try to force his victim to comply.
He later held two teenage girls at knifepoint in a store’s stockroom in 2008. He was tying one girl’s hands behind her back with ropes when the other escaped and raised the alarm.
“These were real crimes, committed against real women, involving this defendant threatening them and trying to control and detain them,” Morgan KC told the court.
“He had an imitation firearm. He had ropes, he had duct tape. He had tied the hands of one of the victims.
“When you consider the discussions about Holly Willoughby and what this defendant planned to do to her, you will do so in the context of the previous crimes.
“They say this defendant knew what it would take to terrorize and dominate a woman. He was also someone who chose to do this for real, not just as a fantasy.”
Plumb’s online discussions ‘aren’t just fantasy ramblings,’ prosecutor tells jurors
12:28 , Tara Cobham
Gavin Plumb’s online discussions were “not just the ramblings of a fantasist”, said prosecutor Alison Morgan KC.
She told Chelmsford Crown Court: “The prosecution’s case is that online discussions that this defendant 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 intended to kill her.
“These are not just the ramblings of a fantasist.
“This defendant carefully planned what he would do and how he would do it, purchasing items that would help him carry out that attack.”
Plumb revealed ‘real intention’ to direct star to undercover US police officer online
12:23 , Amy-Clare Martin at Chelmsford Crown Court
The court heard how Plumb unwittingly explained his plans to kidnap, rape and murder Ms Willoughby – who waived his right to anonymity – in an online discussion with an undercover police officer using the alias David Nelson.
He tried to encourage the officer to commit the crimes with him, the court heard.
“The prosecution’s argument is that this defendant’s online discussions reveal his real intention to carry out a conspiracy to kidnap Holly Willoughby from her family home; take her to a location where she would be raped repeatedly, before the defendant intended to kill her,” Morgan told the court.
“These were not just the ramblings of a fantasist. The defendant carefully planned what he would do and how he would do it, purchasing items that would aid him in carrying out the attack.”
Gavin Plumb was obsessed with Holly Willoughby for several years
12:15 , Amy-Clare Martin at Chelmsford Crown Court
Opening the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, Alison Morgan KC claimed the bouncer had been obsessed with the celebrity for years.
She told the jury: “The defendant’s plans about what he would do with Holly Willoughby were explicit and obviously sexually motivated.
“They were real to him and were based on an obsession with Mrs Willoughby that had developed over several years.”
Man goes on trial accused of conspiring to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby
12:14 , Tara Cobham
A man has gone on trial accused of conspiring to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said Gavin Plumb “engaged in online arguments” with a person he thought was called David Nelson, who, unbeknownst to him, was a “U.S.-based undercover police officer and not, in fact, a kidnapper.” with similar ideas.”
“The defendant’s criminal planning was then disrupted and he was arrested by police,” Ms Morgan said.
Ms. Willoughby waived her right to anonymity in connection with the allegation of incitement to rape.
Plumb, 37, of Harlow, Essex, denies soliciting murder, inciting kidnapping and inciting rape and is on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Jury was sworn in and opening of the Public Prosecutor’s Office begins
12:08 , Police correspondent Amy-Clare Martin at Chelmsford Crown Court
The jury was sworn in at the trial of Gavin Plumb at Chelmsford Crown Court today.
Alison Morgan KC began presenting the opening statement to the court.
Rishi Sunak sent good wishes to Holly Willoughby following news of alleged kidnapping plot
11:45 am , Tara Cobham
Rishi Sunak sent good wishes to Holly Willoughby on This Morning following news of the alleged kidnapping plot.
The Prime Minister said in October: “I’m sorry to hear about everything that’s happening to Holly, I just want to send my love to her and her family.”
Holly Willoughby said she was ‘shocked and distraught’ the moment she learned of the alleged conspiracy
11:11 , Tara Cobham
Holly Willoughby is said to have been “shocked and distraught” after learning of the alleged plot.
At the time, The sun reported that a police guard was posted outside the TV presenter’s London home, where she lives with her husband – TV producer Dan Baldwin – and their three children.
Alison Hammond’s message of support to colleague when Plumb was accused
10:33 , Tara Cobham
Friend This morning co-hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary shared a moving message in support of their colleague Holly Willoughby on the day Gavin Plumb was charged.
Hammond said during the air: “Obviously, we are all shocked to hear the news and want to send our love and biggest hugs to Holly and her family.”
Holly Willoughby announced her departure from This Morning days after Gavin Plumb’s accusation
09:49 , Tara Cobham
Holly Willoughby announced she was stepping down from This Morning days after Gavin Plumb was charged in October.
After 14 years on the ITV show, Willoughby, 43, said in a social media post on October 10 that she felt: “I have to make this decision for myself and my family.”
Four days earlier, Plumb had been charged with solicitation to commit murder and incitement to kidnap.
The TV presenter did not directly refer to the alleged incident in her statement.
She has since presented Dancing on Ice 2024 and will present a Netflix show – due out next year – in which adventurer Bear Grylls hunts celebrities in the jungle.
Man to stand trial accused of conspiring to kidnap and murder Holly Willoughby
09:34 , Tara Cobham
A shopping center security officer will stand trial accused of conspiring to kidnap and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby.
Gavin Plumb is accused of soliciting a man – David Nelson – to commit murder and inciting kidnapping.
The 37-year-old is accused of planning to put together a “kidnap and restraint kit” and encouraging a third party to travel to the UK to commit the alleged crimes.
He is accused of having conspired online with another man, who was traveling from the US to the UK, and created a “detailed plan” to commit the crimes.
Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, denied all charges at an earlier hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court.
He is due to be tried in the same court starting today, with the hearing expected to last around two weeks.
