The jury in the case of a security guard accused of masterminding a plot to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby has retired to consider its verdicts.
Gavin Plumb is accused of developing an “obsession” with the TV presenter over a number of years and encouraging others online to carry out his alleged plans with him.
The 37-year-old previously told jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court that he is “heartbroken, disgusted and shocked” that his “dark” conversations had come out, but insisted the alleged plot was “a fantasy” and not real.
![Sketch of Gavin Plumb](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/aa9d658c596c675e445c144a8400bc56Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIwMDEzMDQ0/2.76681606.jpg?w=640)
The court heard that the defendant had told a man named Marc that “fantasy isn’t enough any more. I want the real thing”.
The defendant is alleged to have conspired online with a man he knew as David Nelson, but who turned out to be an undercover officer from the Owatonna Police Department in the US state of Minnesota.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC previously showed the jury a photograph of an alleged “abduction kit” which was assembled by Plumb and shared with Mr Nelson – including handcuffs and metal cable ties.
His plans allegedly involved attempting to “ambush” the presenter at her family home, and he is accused of discussing taking time off work in order to work on the plot.
The defendant’s messages are alleged to show how he planned to rape her at a different location before killing her and then putting her “into a lake at night”.
Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, denies soliciting murder, incitement to rape and incitement to kidnap.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article