A security guard jailed for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder TV star Holly Willoughby has lost an appeal against his life sentence.

Gavin Plumb was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years last year after being convicted of soliciting murder and encouraging or assisting others to rape and kidnap.

A trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard that police found bottles of chloroform and an "abduction kit" with cable ties when officers raided the 38-year-old's flat in Harlow, Essex.

Plumb's kidnap plan involved attempting to "ambush" Willoughby at her family home, jurors heard.

Plumb argued in his defence that it was just online chat and fantasy.

Reading out the Court of Appeal's judgment on Tuesday, Lord Justice Edis said Plumb's plans were "horrifying and contained graphic detail of what the applicant proposed to do" to Willoughby.

"They are distressing, even for seasoned professionals, to read," he said.

Plumb was caught after an undercover police officer in the US infiltrated an online group called Abduct Lovers.

He told the officer, who used the pseudonym David Nelson, that he was "definitely serious" about his plot to kidnap the former This Morning host, leaving him with the impression that there was an "imminent threat" to Willoughby.

Due to the officer's concern over Plumb's post, evidence was passed to the FBI, who then contacted police in the UK.

Read more:
How Plumb became 'imminent danger' to Willoughby
Security guard's darkening obsession with TV star

Willoughby, who asked for her victim personal statement to be private, waived her right to anonymity in connection with the charge against Plumb of assisting or encouraging rape.

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(c) Sky News 2025: Gavin Plumb: Man jailed for plotting to rape and murder Holly Willoughby loses appe