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A security guard is accused of contacting a hitman to kidnap and murder British television presenter Holly Willoughby, a court heard on Friday.
Gavin Plumb, a 36-year-old father of two, is alleged to have plotted to assemble a “kidnap and restraint kit” at his home.
Television presenter Holly Willoughby and Gavin Plumb, who is alleged to have plotted to has been charged over an alleged plot to murder her.Credit: AP
Plumb, who gave up jobs in fast food restaurants after his weight hit 222 kilograms, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court charged with soliciting a US man, named in court as David Nelson, to commit murder, and incitement to commit kidnap between October 2 and 5.
Willoughby, 42, who presents ITV’s This Morning, was absent from the program on Thursday and Friday and was under police guard at her home in London following the discovery of the alleged plot.
Rishi Sunak, Britain’s prime minister, who was a guest of the daytime television program on Friday, sent his “love and best wishes” to Willoughby following publicity surrounding the case.
Mr Sunak told hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond: “Before we get going, I’m so sorry to hear everything going on with Holly. I just wanted to send my best to her and her family, and to all of you.”
Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, appeared in court in a green T-shirt with the slogan “Aged to Perfection”, and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and where he worked.
Before he was remanded in custody, the court heard that Plumb, a security officer at a shopping centre in Essex, is alleged to have conspired online with another man and created a “detailed plan” to carry out the offences.
He is accused of “soliciting, encouraging, persuading, endeavouring to persuade or proposing to a third party” to murder Willoughby between Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
It is also alleged that between Monday and Thursday, he was “formulating a plan with a third party”.
He allegedly “encouraged that third party to travel to the UK to carry out the plan” and was “assembling a kidnap and restraint kit, capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of the kidnap” of Willoughby.
Plumb had featured on the BBC to discuss his weight. He said that at his heaviest he had weighed more than 222 kilograms and had subsequently had a gastric band fitted. For at least four years, he said that he had barely left his home unaided.
In a statement, Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby, of Essex Police, said: “This was an extremely fast-paced investigation, with many of our officers and national partners working overnight to secure these charges.
“The safeguarding of any victim is paramount, and we will continue to prioritise this and working with the Metropolitan Police Service as the investigation proceeds.”
Plumb was remanded into custody by District Judge Caroline Jackson until a plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 3.Bosses at the ITV show were alerted to the alleged plot on Thursday morning and the presenter decided to pull out shortly before she was due to go on air, it was reported. ITV is providing round-the-clock security and support for Willoughby alongside the police.
Willoughby’s ITV colleague Lorraine Kelly addressed the story on Friday’s episode of her programme Lorraine, saying it was “very, very upsetting”.
She added: “Of course we are sending Holly all of our love and best wishes. That is a terrible thing to be having to go through for her and her family.”
On the program O’Leary and Hammond began with a choreographed message of support for Willoughby.
O’Leary said: “We’re not going to talk much about it, but we have to start with the story of one of our own,” to which Hammond added: “We are obviously all shocked to hear the news and we want to send our love and biggest hugs to Holly and her family.”
A spokesman for ITV said: “This news has come as a huge shock to everyone at This Morning and ITV. We are providing all of the support we can to Holly and her family at this incredibly distressing time.”
The Telegraph, UK
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