Man sentenced to life in prison after plotting to kidnap Holly Willoughby

A man has been sentenced to life in prison and will serve a minimum term of 16 years after planning to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that former security guard Gavin Plumb's plot had a 'life changing' impact on Willoughby.

Plumb had been arrested last year and today (12 July), he was convicted of soliciting murder along with inciting rape and kidnap.

The 37-year-old was sentenced to life in prison and will serve at least 16 years of that, not counting the 280 days he had spent on remand.

It means that at the very least he'll be behind bars for the next 15 years and 85 days.

At sentencing today, Mr Justice Edward Murray told him: "There is no doubt that if you had genuinely found one or more accomplices who were seriously interested in and had been willing to join you in carrying your plan through then you would have put this plan into action."

Gavin Plumb has been sentenced to life in prison. (PA)

The judge continued: "Over a number of years, you pursued an unhealthy sexual obsession with Holly Willoughby that led you ultimately to plan over that period to kidnap, to rape and to murder her.

“You intended to harm her husband and her children as part of your plan.

“You discussed with Marc and David Nelson and no doubt others in hideous and revolting detail the prolonged sexual violence that you intended to inflict on Ms Willoughby once you abducted her and had her under your control.

“You had previously been convicted of terrifying offences involving the threat of sexual violence against four different young women – I found you to be dangerous.”

Plumb was told by the judge that the 'jury saw through your various lies that you told at the trial'.

Holly Willoughby was Plumb's target, and a court heard how he intended to kidnap, rape and murder her. (Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The former security guard was caught after a US police officer went undercover and infiltrated an online group called Abduct Lovers.

He became concerned about Plumb's posts on the group and passed evidence along to the FBI.

They, in turn, contacted law enforcement in the UK, and when Essex Police raided Plumb's flat, they found bottles of chloroform along with an 'abduction kit' that included cable ties.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said that Willoughby's witness statement was made privately but laid bare the 'catastrophic impact of these offences'.

She said: "What I can say, and I make this submission from the prosecution… it is abundantly clear that in making that statement the prosecution submits the impact of this offending has been life-changing for the victim of these offences – both in private and personal terms – private, personal and indeed professional.

“It is clear, the prosecution submit… that the extent of the shock and fear caused by this offending has been impossible to convey.

“Indeed, being informed of the consequences, the intentions, and the detail of the evidence in this case… it is inevitable that that has exacerbated the trauma for this victim.”