In short:
A British security guard has been sentenced to life in prison for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder British television presenter Holly Willoughby.
Gavin Plumb, 37, was arrested last year when he discussed his plans with an undercover police officer on an online forum.
What’s next?
Plumb will serve at least 16 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
A British man has been sentenced to life in prison for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder UK television presenter Holly Willoughby.
Gavin Plumb, 37, will serve a minimum of 16 years in prison following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court in England.
The Essex man — who has a previous conviction for kidnapping and attempted kidnapping — was convicted of soliciting Willoughby’s murder, kidnapping and rape earlier this month.
Jurors heard how the security guard had developed an obsession with Willoughby over a number of years and managed to gain detailed knowledge of her activity and movements.
Plumb discussed on an online forum how he planned to restrain Willoughby and even purchased equipment to assist him including metal cable ties, ropes and chloroform.
In 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.
But Plumb’s plans were thwarted when he tried to enlist the help of an undercover American police officer last year.
During discussions with the officer, he detailed his plot to harm Willoughby.
When the officer spotted immediate danger to the former This Morning presenter, he contacted the FBI and British police and Plumb was arrested at his Essex home in October.
Police welcome sentence of ‘violent sexual predator’
Judge Mr Justice Murray said on Friday, local time, it was clear from the evidence that Plumb posed a significant risk to women, saying he “has no doubt that this was all considerably more than a fantasy.”
Plumb reportedly told police officers who arrested him: “I’m not going to lie, [Holly Willoughby] is a fantasy of mine.”
During the trial, he had claimed he was just an obsessive fan and a fantasist.
The 37-year- will spend a minimum of 16 years in prison before he is eligible for release from custody.
If Plumb is released, he will be subject to licence conditions for the rest of his life.
Licence conditions are a set of rules individuals must follow if they are released from prison and if these conditions are broken, they could be sent back to jail.
Essex Police’s senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood said the sentence meant “the streets of Essex are safer for women and girls as a result”.
“He is a dangerous individual with a history of kidnapping, attempting to kidnap and plotting to kidnap women and girls.
“In this case he went further and intended to rape and murder his victim.
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“He tried to claim throughout the trial that he was an obsessive fan and a fantasist – that is simply not true.
“He planned this attack on Ms Willoughby over a two-year period, scoping her movements, seeking to elicit help from others to carry out his wicked plan, buying chloroform and other items to incapacitate, restrain and inflict violence upon her.
“He is no fantasist — he’s a calculated, violent, sexual predator who has spent his adult life inflicting or plotting to inflict harm on women.”
Online forums spread Plumb’s ‘misogyny’
Chief Inspector Wood Wood went on to thank Willoughby and Plumb’s other victims for their courage and bravery.
“This case has brought violence against women and girls and misogyny to the fore,” he said.
“It has demonstrated that all of us, whoever we are and whatever we do, have much to do to stamp out this scourge on our society.
“It cannot be right that men like Gavin Plumb are able to join online forums where they vent their hatred towards women and girls and plot to harm them.
“In this case our American colleague ensured we were able to bring Plumb to justice, but we need everyone to stand up to call out misogyny and to report those committing or intent on committing violence towards women and girls.”