Man sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and murder of famous British TV star; case solved by undercover US police officer

A man was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for plotting the kidnapping, rape and murder of Holly Willoughby, one of Britain’s most famous television personalities, in a case investigated by an undercover agent. Minnesota police officer helped crack the case.

In delivering the verdict at Chelmsford Crown Court, about 40 miles east of London, Judge Edward Murray said Gavin Plumb37 that he must serve a minimum sentence of 16 years before being eligible for parole.

Plumb was found guilty by a jury last week after an eight-day trial.

“Over a number of years you pursued an unhealthy sexual obsession with Holly Willoughby which ultimately led you to plan to kidnap, rape and murder her during that period,” the judge said. “As part of your plan you intended to harm her husband and children.”

Plumb’s kidnapping plans, which he detailed in an online chat group, included an attempt to “ambush” Willoughby at her parents’ home. He had even discussed taking time off work to organize the attack.

The judge said Plumb’s plans were so “appalling, shocking and graphic in their detail” that they were not disclosed in public proceedings but the jury heard them.

They were, he added, “particularly sadistic, brutal and degrading” and he had no doubt that the plans were “well more than just a fantasy”.

Plumb, who already had a previous conviction for attempted kidnapping, had argued in his defense that his detailed plan consisted merely of online chat and imagination.

Although Willoughby’s impact statement was not reproduced, the judge said it was clear that Plumb’s plan had a “catastrophic and life-changing” impact on the television personality, both personally and professionally.

Willoughby, 43, was one of Britain’s best-known television personalities for years. Shortly after Plumb’s arrest, she stepped down from her role as presenter of “This Morning,” a magazine program on ITV that mixes celebrity interviews and entertainment news with discussions of current events, after 14 years. But she returned earlier this year to co-host the channel’s “Dancing on Ice.”

“I have never seen such a skilled detective”

Plumb was caught after a undercover police officer in Minnesota infiltrated an online group called “Abduct Lovers” and was so disturbed by Plumb’s posts that he passed evidence to the FBI.

Plumb told the officer, who spoke under the pseudonym David Nelson, that he was “absolutely serious” about his plan to kidnap Willoughby, leaving the officer with the impression that there was an “imminent threat” to her.

US law enforcement, in turn, contacted their counterparts in the UK, and when Essex police searched Plumb’s north London apartment, they found bottles of chloroform and a “kidnapping kit” complete with cable ties.

Jeff Mundale, Owatonna Police Chief, said CBS Minnesota that it took his detective just two days of exchanging messages and building trust until he had the information he needed to alert the FBI and British police.

“In my 29 years of law enforcement, I have never seen such an experienced detective do this type of work,” said Owatonna Police Chief Jeff Mundale. “It’s really impressive.”

When Plumb was arrested and officers told him that the allegations concerned Willoughby, the defendant replied, “I’m not going to lie, she’s a fantasy of mine.”

Willoughby waived her right to anonymity in connection with the charge against Plumb of aiding or abetting rape. In the UK, alleged victims of sexual crimes or victims of sexual crime conspiracy are automatically entitled to anonymity for life once they or someone else makes an allegation.

Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood of Essex Police, the lead investigator, said the case had “brought to light misogyny and violence against women and girls” and paid tribute to Willoughby and others.

“It has shown that we all have a lot to do to eradicate it from society,” he told the court after the verdict was announced. “It cannot be right that men like Gavin Plumb can join online forums where they can vent their hatred of women and girls and plot to harm them. We must all stand up and denounce misogyny and report those who commit violence against women and girls.”