THE streets of Essex are safer today for women and girls after a dangerous sexual predator, who plotted to kidnap, rape and murder a television presenter, was handed a life-sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years in prison.

Following a robust investigation by Essex Police’s Major Crime Team, which led to the successful conviction of 37-year-old Gavin Plumb, of Pottters Field, Harlow, was today sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court.

During a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, jurors were told Plumb had been plotting an attack on Holly Willoughby since 2021.

Plumb developed an obsession with Ms Willoughby over a number of years. He had scoured social media and material online, amassing thousands of images of the star and gaining detailed knowledge of her activity and movements.

But Plumb – who has previous convictions for kidnap and attempted kidnap of women – had a sinister and violent streak and began plotting to abduct, attack and murder the television presenter.

He joined various online forums, including one called “Abduct Lovers”, and began a series of discussions dating back to 2021 where he discussed his plan to kidnap the presenter from her family home.

During online discussions, Plumb discussed how he would restrain his victim and even purchased equipment to assist him including metal cable ties, ropes and chloroform.

Jurors were shown evidence of conversations between Plumb and a man called “Marc”, where they discussed graphic detail about sexual and violent offences they plotted to carry out against the victim.

But Plumb’s depraved plans were thwarted thanks to the work of an American undercover police officer. In October 2023, Plumb continued planning his attack in online forums but did not realise that another man he was seeking to draw into the plot, was in fact an American undercover police officer.

However, thanks to the American police officer and the prompt actions of Essex Police detectives, Plumb was arrested in October 2023 before he could carry out his crimes against his intended victims.

The officer, engaged in conversation with Plumb online and spotting the immediate danger to Holly Willoughby, duly contacted the FBI and British police. Plumb was arrested by Essex Police at his home in Potters Field, Harlow, on 4 October 2023.

Following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, Plumb was convicted of soliciting the murder of Holly Willoughby, encouraging or assisting the commission of her kidnap and encouraging or assisting the commission of her rape.

Handing down sentence to Plumb, Judge Mr Justice Murray praised Ms Willoughby’s “considerable courage” and said he “has no doubt that this was all considerably more than a fantasy” for Plumb.

He also pointed to the Plumb’s previously violent and sexually motivated convictions, the purchase of items in order to commit offences and concerted research into the personal life of Ms Willoughby.

Speaking directly to Plumb, the judge said it was clear from the evidence that he posed a significant risk to women and passed a discretionary life sentence, with a minimum of 16 years to be spent in prison before being eligible for release from custody.

If and when Plumb is released, he will be subject to licence conditions for the whole of his life.

Essex Police’s Senior investigating officer Det Chief Insp Greg Wood said: “Today Gavin Plumb starts a life sentence, with a minimum of 16 years behind bars, and the streets of Essex are safer for woman 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.

“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.

“Today I pay tribute to Ms Willoughby and the other women who have been victims of Plumb. The courage and bravery of all of them to support our investigations and – now and previously – have helped us to protect other women and girls. Thank you to all of them.

“This case has brought violence against women and girls and misogyny to the fore. 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.”

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