Obsessive Holly Willoughby fan shocked even those willing to fantasize with him, court hears

The court heard how the defendant swore and said “this is really happening” when an undercover police officer sent him an image of a flight booking in anticipation of the plot.

Ms Morgan added: “Those, members of the jury, were the words spoken by the defendant when he realised that another person, who he believed to be called David Nelson, was genuinely about to join him in his plan to attack Holly Willoughby.

“When he believed that David Nelson had just booked a flight to travel from the United States… to participate in this attack – ‘this is really happening’.

“He didn’t say, ‘Don’t do that, I’m just kidding.’ He didn’t say, ‘This is just a fantasy, you didn’t buy a plane ticket, did you?’ He didn’t say, ‘I don’t really trust you because the name on your flight reservation doesn’t match your username.’”

Plumb’s previous convictions showed he had a “pattern” of committing acts intended to control and terrify women, Ms Morgan told jurors.

A “sneaky individual”

The prosecutor said the defendant knew why police had gone to his apartment to arrest him, describing him as a “cunning individual”.

Ms Morgan said: “I suggest to you that he is a prolific liar who has sought to minimise the extent of his criminality.

“What you see is a sneaky individual – he knows why the police are there… he knows what he has hidden and he knows what is on his phone.”

Concluding her closing speech, Ms Morgan told the jury: “There is an unpleasant reality to this man – Big Bear, I don’t think. Big Bear, certainly not.

“He shocked even those who were willing to fantasize with him.

“This defendant intended for this to happen.

“He knew that his plan would be much more effective if he could recruit others to the cause. The more people there were, the more likely it would be effective.”

Plumb denies soliciting murder, inciting rape and inciting kidnapping.

The trial continues at Chelmsford Crown Court.