Holly Willoughby trial: Gavin Plumb sentenced to life for rape and murder plot

Security guard Gavin Plumb has been sentenced to life in prison for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder former This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby.  He will serve a minimum of 15 years and 85 days before the parole board will consider his release. Mr Justice Murray laid down the sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, July 12 after Plumb was found guilty on July 4.

Plumb is sat emotionless in the docks as Mr Justice Murray reminded Plumb of the evidence against him and said: "I have carefully read miss Willoughby's statement out of respect for her wish for its contents to remain private, I simply note that I am satisfied that these offenses have had life changing consequences for her, both privately and professionally.

"In assessing the impact of your offending, I bear in mind the broader effect of this type of offending on women generally. who should not be made to feel unsafe, as they go down their daily lives."

The sentence is made up of three concurrent sentences for each of his offences. He was warned: "If and when you are released, you will be subject to license, and this will remain the case for the rest of your life. If for any reason your license is revoked, you will be recalled to prison to continue to serve your life sentence in custody. And it may well be that you will never be released."

Alison Morgan KC, the prosecuting barrister, made it clear Holly Willoughby's victim impact statement would not be read out in court. The statement was presented to Mr Justice Edward Murray and the defence team.

Addressing the severe toll on Ms Willoughby, Ms Morgan highlighted the "catastrophic" consequences she has endured.

She remarked: "The prosecution submits that the impact of the offending has been life-changing for the victim of these offences, both in a private and personal and indeed professional terms. The prosecution submits that the extent of the shock and fear caused by this offending has been impossible to convey."

Furthermore, Ms Morgan pointed out that the trial and the evidence that emerged have "exacerbated" the distress experienced by Ms Willoughby.

The court previously heard Plumb had conspired online with a man he knew as David Nelson who turned out to be an undercover officer from Minnesota, in the United States.

During the trial, Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC showed the jury a photograph of an alleged "abduction kit" which was assembled by the defendant and shared with Mr Nelson. The "kit" included metal cable ties and handcuffs.

The barrister also said there was a "nasty reality" to Plumb and he "shocked even those who were prepared to fantasise with him" - adding that he was "intent on making this happen". He told Marc repeatedly he was going to attempt this at some point, with or without others, Ms Morgan told the court.

Plumb's plot involved attempting to "ambush" Ms Willoughby at her family home and it was claimed he discussed taking annual leave from his job to work on the plan.

His barrister Sasha Wass KC said he had "fallen down a rabbit hole" of fantastical online chat rooms where "lonely, disaffected people were feeding off their fantasies".

She told the court: "It was the fantasy of rape and abduction that gave him the gratification." Ms Wass also stated: "He had neither the means nor the opportunity to carry out any of the things he mentioned in his chats." 

However, the jury wasn't convinced and handed down a guilty verdict. Plumb has been remanded in custody awaiting sentencing since.

Ms Willoughby issued a statement following the verdict in which she said women "should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes", as she thanked the undercover US police officer who helped foil Plumb's kidnap plot.

"Thank you to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Rt Hon Mr Justice Murray, Alison Morgan KC, the members of the jury and all involved in this case for ensuring that justice was done and that the defendant will not be able to harm any more women," she said.

"I would also like to commend the bravery of his previous victims for speaking up at the time. Without their bravery, this conviction may not have been possible," she added.