By Lewis Adams, Laura Foster, BBC News, at Chelmsford Crown Court
Getty ImagesA security guard has been found guilty of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder television presenter Holly Willoughby.
Gavin Plumb assembled a tool kit for highly sexualised violence against the former This Morning presenter to fulfil his “ultimate fantasy”.
The 37-year-old from Harlow, Essex, was arrested and charged after he unwittingly disclosed his plans online to an undercover police officer in the US.
Plumb denied soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape between 2021 and 2023, but has been found guilty following an eight-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
The defendant wept in the dock as he was told he would be sentenced on 12 July.
Det Ch Insp Greg Wood, of Essex Police, told the BBC that Plumb was an “obsessive loner” who had assembled “all the items he needed to cause Holly Willoughby some serious harm”.
“If the American officer hadn’t have contacted us… I’ve got no doubt that Gavin Plumb could’ve gone on to commit some really horrific crimes,” he added.
Ms Willoughby ended her 14-year stint on This Morning after the offences came to light in October 2023.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.