Man bursts into tears as he is found guilty of planning to murder Holly Willoughby

A man was found guilty of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby.

Gavin Plumb, 37, burst into tears after the verdict was delivered at Chelmsford Crown Court today. A jury of eight woman and four men found Plumb guilty on one count of soliciting murder, one count of plotting to kidnap and one count of plotting to rape.

According to the PA news agency, Plumb slowly shook his head and stared at the floor of the dock. as the verdict was returned. He then began to weep as he was sent down to the cells. Following the guilty verdicts in Gavin Plumb’s case, Nicola Rice, a specialist prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Gavin Plumb is a dangerous man who plotted unspeakable violence against one of the nation’s most familiar faces.

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“Despite his attempts to pass himself off as a harmless fantasist, the prosecution persuaded the jury that Plumb posed a very real threat. The chilling details of his plans were laid bear with the help of an undercover officer from the US who alerted the FBI to the threat, and the seriousness of Plumb’s scheme was exposed when the prosecution successfully applied to tell the jury about Plumb’s previous convictions.

“I hope his conviction brings some comfort to Holly Willoughby and her family, and shows others that the Crown Prosecution Service will always seek the strongest possible charges against those who plot violence against women.”

The prosecution will be applying for a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order at Gavin Plumb’s sentencing, prosecutor Ros Earis said.

The sentencing will take place on July 12.

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