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4 months ago
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A security guard accused of plotting to rape and murder Holly Willoughby was found in possession of a bondage kit containing gags, ropes and metal cable ties, a court has heard.
The equipment was found at the home of Gavin Plumb, 37, who allegedly planned to kidnap Ms Willoughby before taking her to a 'dungeon', jurors have been told.
Today the prosecution read texts Plumb sent to a man called Marc in which they described an abandoned stud farm in the country as a place to 'keep' the TV presenter.
In a WhatsApp message, read to Chelmsford Crown Court by prosecutor Alison Morgan KC, Plumb said: 'We've got somewhere in the country to keep her Ryan (another man he had been speaking with) is interested again by the looks of it.'
Marc replied: 'Cool where is the location.'
The defendant said it was 'a stud farm that's abandoned', adding: 'It's got cells.'
He said in a further message: 'It could finally be happening.'
The equipment was found at the home of Gavin Plumb, 37, who allegedly planned to tie up the TV presenter's family before kidnapping her, jurors have been told
Plumb, 37, allegedly planned to enter Ms Willoughby's London home before kidnapping her
Evidence shown to the court indicated Plumb was searching online for rape cases, with articles he read including one titled 'man who raped five women he met online dating app jailed for life'.
On November 27, 2022, Plumb wrote: 'I've passed my SIA licence so might try to use it to be her security.'
The following month a frustrated Plumb allegedly told Marc: 'There is some interest but no one 100% will to commit.'
He continued: 'If was just us we'd be breaking into her house and keeping her there. If your cool with that we'll do it.
'We'll choose all her outfits and will get control of Dan [Miss Willoughby's husband] as well… it's more risky but I'm good with it.'
He added: 'I'll get balaclavas and gloves as well.'
Referring to how they would allegedly subdue their target, Plumb wrote: 'So we break in when they are in bed we hold both at a weapon point tell both to roll over on there fronts with there hands behind their backs. With Dan we use the metal cable ties with holly we'll use the handcuffs etc.'
The men allegedly also talked about getting Miss Willoughby being 'forced to drive' to an abandoned building, with Plumb saying: 'She's driving to her own torture site lol.'
But Plumb added: 'I'm looking at learning to drive in the new year so we'll have someone that can drive for our special guest.'
The pair also discussed booking a tour to the ITV studios and whether it would involve meeting presenters, the court heard.
Plumb wrote to Marc: 'I'm not sure if I'm booking an ITV studio tour or just to the area.'
Marc replied, in the exchange read out by Ms Morgan: 'Go to the area and follow her home.'
In the messages read to jurors, Plumb said: 'She will be driving I will be on foot though.'
The defendant later added, in a message in 2022: 'I'm calling the studio tours tomorrow to see if they are still available and if you meet presenters.'
Plumb's first known reference to Ms Willoughby, 43, found in electronic devices seized from his flat in Harlow, Essex, was in 2021, when he is said to have looked up fake images on a free porn website, Chelmsford Crown Court was told yesterday.
Plumb is accused of planning to rape Ms Willoughby before murdering her and then disposing her body in the lake
However, a police officer giving evidence said there were 'millions' of images of the mother-of-three and other celebrities and police had only managed to go through about 10 per cent of them.
The jury was taken through a sequence of events yesterday by Ms Morgan and Detective Constable William Belsham, from Essex Police, who helped sift through Plumb's electronic devices. The document chronologically details the prosecution's case against him.
The father-of-one began chatting online with an individual called Marc in late 2021, with the man allegedly writing: 'We do a home invasion, tie the whole family up and take her.
'Could even... burn the house down or shoot the rest of her family.'
Among the 'numerous' images of Ms Willoughby that Plumb shared with Marc were deepfake porn photos.
Plumb, who prosecutors say was in contact with a number of people about the plot, was arrested in October last year after striking up a relationship with a man called David Nelson, who turned out to be a US-based undercover police officer.
Ms Willoughby pulled out of an appearance on This Morning following his arrest in October last year and quit the show a few days later.
Plumb denies soliciting kidnap, rape and murder. The trial continues.
Ms Willoughby pulled out of an appearance on This Morning following his arrest in October last year and quit the show a few days later
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