Undercover cop felt there was ‘imminent threat’ to Holly Willoughby after ‘kidnap plotter’ sent her address in web chat
AN undercover cop who engaged with Holly Willoughby’s “kidnap plotter” felt there was an “immediate threat” to the star, a court heard.
The officer, using the pseudonym David Nelson, began messaging Gavin Plumb directly after they met in a group called Abduct Lovers.
He told jurors he believed there was a “credible plan” to kidnap Holly after the security guard claimed he had a “load of info” on the star.
This included details on her security arrangements, sending Nelson the star’s address and providing information about her car, it was said.
Plumb had also sent details of his “abduction kit”, which he allegedly planned to use so he could ambush Holly at her home.
He then wanted to rape the star, who has waived her anonymity, before murdering her, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.
Nelson said: “At that point in the conversation it was quite alarming.”
The US-based officer, who had to look up who the star was, said the pair began speaking in private as he felt there was an “imminent threat” to Holly.
He told the court he feared Plumb “must be approaching” Holly so asked him how far it was from his address to Holly’s home “to figure out where [he] was located”.
Plumb then sent the officer a screenshot of a Google map showing the route from his house to the star’s location, it was said.
At one stage, Nelson sent Plumb a flight confirmation in their online conversations in order “to show him that I was willing to accomplice him in this act”.
Meanwhile, the undercover cop was feeding information to the FBI and the Metropolitan Police, jurors heard.
The court was told Plumb spent years fixating on the former This Morning star – tracking her movements and activities for “some time”.
He allegedly considered booking a tour to the ITV studios that would involve meeting presenters.
As well as divulging the alleged plot to Nelson, he also spoke online with a man named Marc.
In voice notes played to the court, he told his accomplice he was looking for a place to “hold” Holly after ambushing her at her family home.
He also described how he was planning to use chloroform on Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin while striking in the dead of night.
Plumb added: “Plan of action, basically, we are going to hit it at night, less traffic on the road. Chloroform both of them, making them easier to restrain. Pick out outfits of hers we like, take her and the outfits with us and then we’re gone.
“We are then going to force her to make a video saying she came with us under her own free will and she’s fully consenting to everything we do to her so that covers us.”
He later told him: “I’m at the point where idc (I don’t care) about the risks or consequences.”
The shopping centre security guard was arrested on October 4 last year – just moments before Holly was due to go on air to present This Morning.
The mum-of-three, 43, announced later that month she was stepping down from the show after 14 years.
She said in a social media post at the time that she felt: “I have to make this decision for me and my family.”
Plumb denies soliciting murder, incitement to kidnap and incitement to rape between December 2021 and October last year.
The trial continues.