The 37-year-old security guard Gavin Plumb, who has a troubling past of abusing women, has come under fire for his unsettling fixation with TV host Holly Willoughby. Plumb’s quiet lifestyle is belied by his criminal past; he was featured in a documentary once about his obesity. His obsession with Willoughby has led to a very concerning progression from seclusion to a serious threat, which included a plot to kidnap, rape, and kill her.
An Unsettling Past of Atrocities
Plumb’s criminal history began in 2006 when, equipped with a fake gun and ropes, he tried to kidnap two air hostesses from the Stansted Express train. A 12-month suspended prison sentence followed this “stewardess fantasy.” In the stockroom of a Woolworths store where he worked in 2008, he attacked two 16-year-old girls. He taped the hands of one girl behind her back with a box cutter before she could get away. For this offense, Plumb spent sixteen months in prison.
The ‘Hermit’ Lifestyle
Plumb dated Ellie Hoad for three months in 2007, during which time she described him as a “hermit” who stayed at home and played video games like Call of Duty. He had a pleasant disposition and a good sense of humor, despite not exhibiting any violent tendencies that would later surface. His next-door neighbor Joanna noted his seclusion as well, saying that she sometimes heard “unusual conversations” from her garden.
In a 2018 BBC documentary, Plumb discussed his obesity and how he hardly ever left his apartment. He consumed eighteen liters of cola every ten days and weighed 35.5 stone at his heaviest. He expressed hope to resume work and play football after undergoing gastric surgery, believing he had turned his life around. But this change on the outside concealed a more sinister reality within.
Obsession with Holly Willoughby
According to Plumb’s social media past, he has been posting sexually suggestive content about Holly Willoughby at least since 2014. He compiled a handwritten list of 136 female celebrities, with Willoughby at the top, and kept more than 10,000 photos of her. When he started making plans to abduct, rape, and kill her, his obsession became dangerous.
By December 2021, Plumb was communicating with a man in Ireland, known as Marc, who claimed to have been jailed for stalking and fantasizing about raping TV stars. Plumb outlined his plans in chilling voice notes, detailing how he would attack Willoughby and her husband in their home. He even showed Marc a “kidnap kit” that included shackles, a blindfold, handcuffs, a ball gag, rope, and metal cable ties.
The Plan Unveiled
Willoughby was to have her throat cut, to be doused in bleach, and to have her body dumped in a lake as part of Plumb’s scheme. He bought a folding knife and did some research on toy guns. He made clear how serious his intentions were by his meticulous plans and the equipment he acquired.
Under the pseudonym David Nelson, a US police undercover agent broke into Plumb’s online group and started talking about kidnapping fantasies. By providing images of Willoughby, her house, and his kidnapping kit, Plumb demonstrated her trust in Nelson. The officer notified UK police and the FBI, fearing for Willoughby’s safety.
Police found bottles labeled “chloroform,” his kidnap kit, and a wine fridge full of chocolate bars and cola when they raided Plumb’s Harlow, Essex, apartment on October 4. Willoughby was in immediate danger, and Plumb’s plans were thwarted by the raid.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Willoughby did not know she was in danger until the police told her, as highlighted by Nicola Rice of the Crown Prosecution Service. After 14 years, Willoughby resigned from “This Morning” due to Plumb’s arrest, citing the need to put her and her family’s safety first. After that, she made a comeback to television, hosting “Dancing On Ice 2024” and preparing to host a Netflix series.
Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood of Essex Police said Plumb was a misogynistic, violent man who could do a lot of damage. Ellie Hoad, Plumb’s ex-girlfriend, expressed shock, finding it hard to reconcile the quiet man she knew with the violent criminal he had turned into.
The transformation of Gavin Plumb into a dangerous predator from a reclusive, seemingly harmless person highlights the complicated and frequently concealed nature of violent obsessions. His story serves as a sobering reminder of the value of alertness and the necessity of acting quickly to shield potential victims from harm.
