A security guard jailed for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder TV star Holly Willoughby has lost an appeal against his life sentence.
Gavin Plumb was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years last year after being convicted of soliciting murder and encouraging or assisting others to rape and kidnap.
A trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard that police found bottles of chloroform and an “abduction kit” with cable ties when officers raided the 38-year-old’s flat in Harlow, Essex.
Plumb’s kidnap plan involved attempting to “ambush” Willoughby at her family home, jurors heard.
Plumb argued in his defence that it was just online chat and fantasy.
Reading out the Court of Appeal’s judgment on Tuesday, Lord Justice Edis said Plumb’s plans were “horrifying and contained graphic detail of what the applicant proposed to do” to Willoughby.
“They are distressing, even for seasoned professionals, to read,” he continued.
Dismissing Plumb’s appeal, Lord Edis said: “This is a case where the offender clearly is dangerous and where there is no way of knowing when or if ever that will cease to be the case.”
He added that the decision of the sentencing judge was “unimpeachable”.
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Plumb did not attend the hearing either in person or remotely.
He was caught after an undercover police officer in the US infiltrated an online group called Abduct Lovers.
He told the officer, who used the pseudonym David Nelson, that he was “definitely serious” about his plot to kidnap the former This Morning host, leaving him with the impression that there was an “imminent threat” to Willoughby.
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Due to the officer’s concern over Plumb’s post, evidence was passed to the FBI, who then contacted police in the UK.
Willoughby, who asked for her victim personal statement to be private, waived her right to anonymity in connection with the charge against Plumb of assisting or encouraging rape.
