Jury retires to consider verdicts in Holly Willoughby’s kidnapping conspiracy trial

The jury in the case of a security guard accused of orchestrating a plot to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby has retired to deliberate its verdicts.

Gavin Plumb is accused of developing an “obsession” with the TV presenter over several years and encouraging others online to carry out her alleged plans with him.

The 37-year-old previously told jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court he was “heartbroken, disgusted and shocked” that his “dark” conversations had been revealed, but insisted the alleged plot was “fantasy” and not real.

The court heard that the defendant told a man named Marc that “fantasy is not enough anymore. I want the real thing”.

The defendant allegedly conspired online with a man he knew as David Nelson, but who turned out to be an undercover officer with the Owatonna Police Department in the US state of Minnesota.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC had previously shown the jury a photograph of an alleged “kidnapping kit” assembled by Plumb and shared with Mr Nelson, including handcuffs and metal restraints.

His plans allegedly included attempting to “ambush” the presenter at her family home, and he is accused of considering taking time off work to work on the plot.

The defendant’s messages allegedly show how he planned to rape her at another location before killing her and then throwing her “into a lake at night.”

Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, denies soliciting murder, incitement to rape and incitement to kidnap.