A man is found guilty of Holly Willoughby kidnap plot

Gavin Plumb, 37 cried in the dock as he was found guilty of soliciting murder, incitement to rape and incitement to kidnap

Holly Willoughby
Author: Cameron GreenPublished 4th Jul 2024
Last updated 4th Jul 2024

A security guard from Harlow has been found guilty of plotting to Kidnap, rape and Murder TV Presenter Holly Willoughby.

Gavin Plumb stood in the dock to hear the verdict wearing a grey tracksuit.

He cried as he was found guilty on all counts relating to the kidnap plot.

The 37 year old was arrested at his flat in Harlow, on October 4th last year.

And on Tuesday a judge told jurors not to let emotion cloud their judgment.

Addressing the jury of eight women and four men, Mr Justice Edward Murray said: "You may find yourself feeling sympathy to one side or the other, but you must not let (it) cloud your judgment."

Sasha Wass KC, giving her defence closing speech, said Gavin Plumb's defence to all three charges is "exactly the same" and that the 37-year-old "was living out a fantasy".

"He had neither the means or the opportunity to carry out any of the things he mentioned in his chats."

"A dark and twisted fantasy, but a fantasy nonetheless," Ms Wass told jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court.

She described Gavin Plumb as an "isolated and lonely individual who lived out his fantasy life online".

Ms Wass said there was "no doubt that the content of the messages (sent by Plumb online) are vile and misogynistic, and Mr Plumb himself accepts they're dark".

He said that "what matters is what the defendant's intention was" and "not whether any plan to kill Holly Willoughby was realistic or would or could have succeeded".

And appealed to the jury saying: "I would urge you to stick to the evidence in this indictment and the central question - is this a serious plan or is it a fantasy?"

Plumb will be sentenced back at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday 12th July.

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