A violent Harlow Paedophile Gavin Plumb who planned to kidnap a female television presenter from her family home before raping and murdering her has been convicted thanks to the efforts of Essex Police investigators.
Gavin Plumb, 37, has been plotting an attack on Holly Willoughby since 2021, meticulously calculating how he would carry out his sick plan and even purchasing a kidnapping kit for the occasion.
However, owing to an American undercover police officer and the quick actions of Essex Police detectives, Gavin Plumb was apprehended in October 2023 before he could commit his crimes against his targeted targets.
Gavin Plumb of Potters Field, Harlow, was convicted today, Thursday, July 4, after a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, of soliciting Holly Willoughby’s murder, encouraging or assisting the crime of her kidnapping, and encouraging or assisting the commission of her rape.
During the trial, jurors learned that Gavin Plumb had developed a fixation with Holly Willoughby over the course of several years. He had scoured social media and other online resources, gathering thousands of photographs of the singer and getting intimate knowledge of her activities and movements.
Gavin Plumb’s plans were aggressive, graphic, and sexually oriented. He started a series of chats on online forums in 2021, during which he revealed his plan to kidnap the presenter from her family home. He conducted significant research to carry out his idea.
After a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, Gavin Plumb was found guilty of all three crimes.
During online talks, Gavin Plumb outlined how he planned to restrain his victim and even purchased tools to help him, such as metal cable ties, ropes, and chlorine.
The court heard several voice notes and texts exchanged between Gavin Plumb and another man, “Marc,” in which they discussed explicit details about sexual and violent crimes they planned to commit against the victim.
Gavin Plumb looked into ways to get closer to the victim, such as where she was filming, and even considered taking her to an isolated building.
He also conducted extensive computer searches on the use of chloroform and rape, as well as participating in an online community dedicated to abducting women.
Gavin Plumb continued to discuss his idea online in October 2023, unaware that another individual he was attempting to attract into the plot was an American undercover police officer.
The officer alerted the FBI and British authorities, and Gavin Plumb was arrested by Essex authorities on October 4, 2023, at his home in Potters Field, Harlow.
Upon arrest, detectives searched Gavin Plumb’s residence and discovered two bottles of chloroform, a kidnap kit with equipment for restraining and harming the intended victim, and mobile phone devices carrying incriminating texts and imagery linked to his preparations.
In several communications, Gavin Plumb warned his potential accomplices that he planned to kidnap his victim at night, incapacitating her with chloroform before forcing her to shoot a video claiming she went with Plumb of her own ‘free will’.
Gavin Plumb has previously been convicted of false detention and attempted kidnapping of women, including two 16-year-old girls, jurors were informed.
Essex Police’s Senior Investigating Officer, Det Chief Insp Greg Wood, said:
“Gavin Plumb is a violent, predatory man who was determined to cause the most grievous injury to his victim.
“He was not simply fascinated with Holly Willoughby; he deliberately and carefully prepared, over many years, to carry out a vicious and brutal attack in which he plotted to deprive her of her liberty and, eventually, her life.
“His assertions in court that he was a ‘fantasist’ are simply false, as proven by the extent to which he conspired with others to carry out his cruel plan. Plumb had a history of abusing other women, attempting to kidnap them with weapons and threats of violence.
“He is a dangerous man, and I have no doubt he intended to carry out the atrocities he planned.
“Today, we are incredibly thankful to our law enforcement partner in America, who not only brought Gavin Plumb to our attention but also assisted in gathering the critical evidence that led to his conviction.
“We would also like to thank the victim, who has courageously supported our lawsuit and relinquished her anonymity.
“Today, Gavin Plumb remains behind bars. At Essex Police, we will continue to do everything we can to find individuals intent on causing violence and harm to women and girls and, like this defendant, put them in jail. There is simply no place for dangerous individuals like him on Essex’s streets or in society, and we will do everything we can to keep our communities safe for everyone.”
Gavin Plumb was remanded in custody and will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, July 12.
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