A security guard who planned to kidnap, rape, and murder television presenter Holly Willoughby has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years. This shocking plot had a devastating impact on Willoughby, who had to take indefinite leave from her popular show This Morning.
Willoughby, a mother of three, was left distraught when she learned about the sinister plan. To ensure her safety, officers were stationed outside her London home where she lives with her husband and children. The extent of the shock and fear caused by this ordeal has been impossible to fully convey.
The court heard how Gavin Plumb, the perpetrator, meticulously planned the kidnapping and intended to subject Willoughby to unspeakable acts of violence. The details of the degradation he planned were so vile that they were not disclosed in the media. Plumb was unanimously convicted of soliciting murder and inciting rape and kidnap.
Judge Edward Murray, when sentencing Plumb, emphasized the danger he posed and the lengths he would have gone to carry out his plan. Murray stated that Plumb’s intention was not only to harm Willoughby but also her husband and children. Plumb had previously been convicted of terrifying offenses involving the threat of sexual violence against multiple women.
The specialist prosecutor, Nicola Rice, affirmed that Plumb’s sentence ensures he can no longer pose a threat or harm women. The Crown Prosecution Service proved that his plans to harm Willoughby were more than mere fantasy. They demonstrated his intention to involve others in his criminal acts. Rice hopes that this sentence brings some comfort not only to Willoughby but also to the victims of Plumb’s previous offenses.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this story, there are helplines available to offer support. You can contact Mind at 0300 123 3393 (9am–6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays) or the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline at 0808 500 222 (available 24/7). In the case of immediate danger or urgent medical attention, please call 999.
