Holly Willoughby breaks silence as Gavin Plumb is found guilty of horrific plot to rape and kill her

Holly Willoughby has spoken out after the man who plotted to kidnap, rape and kill her was found guilty.

Gavin Plumb, from Essex, wept at Chelmsford Crown Court as a jury of eight women and four men found him guilty on all counts. Mr Plumb was arrested after undercover officers in the US contacted the Metropolitan Police after having conversations with Plumb. In a statement, Holly thanked the American undercover officer for helping to foil Gavin Plumb’s plot as well as the Crown Prosecution Service and everyone involved in convicting his would-be kidnapper.

She said: “As women, we should not feel unsafe in our daily lives and in our own homes. I will always be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex Police forces for their swift response. Thank you to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Right Honourable Judge Murray, Alison Morgan KC, the jury and everyone involved in this case for ensuring that justice was done and that the defendant could not harm any more women.

“I would also like to acknowledge the courage of his previous victims who came forward at the time. Without their courage, this conviction may not have been possible.” The jury found Plumb guilty of one count of solicitation to murder, one count of conspiracy to kidnap and one count of conspiracy to rape. Plumb slumped forward as the first of three guilty verdicts were returned. Shaking his head, he then began to cry and sniffle before being led away.

Before being convicted, Plumb had denied all charges against him. Plumb is due to be sentenced next Friday at the same court by Judge Edward Murray, who is expected to hear a statement from Holly describing the impact of Plumb’s crimes on her and her family.

Speaking outside court, Chief Inspector Greg Wood said: “I have no doubt that Gavin Plumb is a truly dangerous individual who carefully devised a plan to find out where the victim lived, how to get there, purchased important items online and tried to find someone like-minded to carry out these plans.

“The risk he posed was real. This wasn’t just an online conversation, it had been planned for several years to abduct, rape and murder Holly Willoughby.” Holly announced shortly after Plumb’s arrest last October that she was stepping down from This Morning after 14 years on the ITV show. She said in a social media post at the time that she felt she had to “make this decision for myself and my family”.

Nicola Rice, a specialist prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said outside court today: “Gavin Plumb is a dangerous man who planned unspeakable violence against one of the country’s most famous faces. Despite his attempts to portray himself as a harmless fantasist, the prosecution persuaded the jury that Plumb posed a very real threat.

“The chilling details of his plans were exposed with the help of an undercover US agent who alerted the FBI to the threat, and the seriousness of Plumb’s plan was revealed when the prosecution managed to reveal Plumb’s previous convictions to the jury. I hope his conviction will bring some comfort to Holly Willoughby and her family and show others that the Crown Prosecution Service will always seek to bring the strongest possible charges against those who plot against women.”

During his conversations with undercover agents, Plumb showed contact with imitation firearms and a video of his “kit” that consisted of hand and ankle shackles, a ball gag, rope, metal restraints and handcuffs. He also allegedly purchased chloroform, which he said he used on Holly and her husband, Dan Baldwin.

He described his plan as his “ultimate fantasy”, adding: “Fantasy isn’t enough anymore. I want the real thing.” In December 2022, Plumb outlined his plans for once he entered Holly’s home, including using metal restraints to restrain her and incapacitating her husband, Dan Baldwin. And in March 2023, he said in a voice message to a man called Marc he met online: “Action plan? We’re going to hit hard, hit at night, with less traffic on the road.”

“Chloroform them both like this and then they can both be easily immobilised. Pick out some outfits that we like and then, obviously, take her and the outfits with us and we’ll go.” Plumb then sent Marc images of an order he had placed for chloroform and a bottle was found by police at the defendant’s home in Harlow, Essex.

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