A former security guard who meticulously plotted the chilling kidnap, rape and murder of TV star Holly Willoughby has lost a desperate bid to reduce his life sentence.
Gavin Plumb, 38, who once worked as a shopping centre security officer in Essex, was jailed for life in July last year after being convicted of conspiring to commit horrifying crimes against the beloved This Morning presenter.
Holly Willoughby Plotter Fails in Desperate Jail Appeal
Judges have now dismissed his appeal against what his legal team called a “manifestly excessive” sentence.
“I’m not gonna lie, she is a fantasy of mine,” Plumb told police upon his arrest, words that would later come back to haunt him.
Sick Plans Behind a Smiling Face
Plumb, who used the online pseudonym Big Bear, plotted to ambush Ms Willoughby at her family home, planning to abduct her and take her to a so-called “dungeon”-like room. Chillingly, he had even scoped out an abandoned stud farm equipped with cells.
His sinister messages revealed how he intended to sexually assault the ITV presenter before ending her life and disposing of her body in a lake “at night”.
The judge overseeing the case, Mr Justice Murray, said Plumb harboured an “unhealthy sexual obsession” with the presenter, adding that his disturbing plans were “particularly sadistic, brutal and degrading”.
International Sting Foiled the Plot
It was an undercover police officer in Minnesota, USA, posing as a member of a disturbing online group called Abduct Lovers, who brought Plumb’s dark fantasies crashing down.
Using the name David Nelson, the officer engaged in extensive online chats with Plumb and quickly realised the threat was very real and imminent.
He said Plumb appeared “definitely serious” and clearly intended to act on his threats. Alarmed, US authorities passed the information to the FBI, who then tipped off UK police.
In a swift raid on his Harlow flat, Essex Police uncovered an “abduction kit” containing chloroform, cable ties, and more. The disturbing haul gave officers all they needed to make the arrest on 4 October 2023.
At trial, Plumb claimed he was merely engaging in online fantasy roleplay. But the jury, and the judge, weren’t buying it.
“I have no doubt that this was all considerably more than a fantasy to you,” Mr Justice Murray said in sentencing.
The court heard Plumb first began researching celebrity kidnappings as early as 2011, Googling terms like “how to meet people who plan to kidnap celebs.”
His twisted interest grew over the years into a full-blown plan.
Court Rejects Appeal
On Tuesday, Plumb’s barrister, Sasha Wass KC, argued that the 16-year minimum term was too harsh and that it failed to take into account mitigating factors. She also suggested that Ms Willoughby had not suffered “lasting psychological harm”.
But Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Spencer and Ms Justice Norton, ruled the appeal was “ultimately unpersuasive”.
The Crown Prosecution Service strongly opposed the appeal, insisting that the case had “life-changing consequences” for Ms Willoughby.
“The extent of the shock and fear caused by this offending has been impossible to convey,” said prosecutor Alison Morgan KC during the sentencing hearing.
A Wake-Up Call for Women’s Safety
In a powerful statement following the guilty verdicts, Ms Willoughby said: “As women, we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes.”
Her words struck a chord across the country. The incident sparked widespread discussions around online extremism, celebrity security, and the chilling reality of digital grooming for violent crimes.
A Grim Reminder of Digital Dangers
Plumb’s descent into darkness unfolded quietly behind a screen. His digital footprints, chats, search history, and meticulous planning painted a disturbing picture of how dangerous fantasies can tip into real-world threats.
Though he never laid a hand on Ms Willoughby, the damage caused by his obsessive behaviour will linger. Not only for her, but for anyone who lives with public visibility.
Holly Willoughby remains one of Britain’s most beloved TV personalities. This case has only strengthened the resolve to better protect public figures and ensure those who threaten them face the full force of justice.
