Holly Willoughby‘s deranged stalker Gavin Plumb is trying to appeal his convictions for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder the television presenter.
Plumb, who was jailed for a minimum of 16 years earlier this month, is also reportedly trying to contest his sentence. If his appeal successful, it will be heard by the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
A court official told the Mirror today: ‘We have received applications to appeal both [his convictions and sentence].’
Throughout his trial, Plumb, whose sick plan was discovered by an undercover American cop, had repeatedly denied solicitating murder, inciting rape and inciting kidnap.
The court heard from his lawyer Sasha Wass KC that he did not have ‘the means nor the opportunity’ to execute the morbid plan. Instead she describes the messages as ‘the ramblings of a rather sad individual’.
Gavin Plumb was convicted for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby
Plumb was found guilty of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby
An artist’s drawing of Plumb at Chelmsford Crown Court at the start of his trial
Plumb had plotted to ambush Ms Willoughby at her London home in the dead of night, using chloroform to knock Ms Willoughby and her husband Dan Baldwin.
In his twisted plan, he would have taken the 43-year-old captive, holding her in an isolated ‘dungeon’ which he described as ‘death row’, repeatedly raping her before slitting her throat and murdering her.
Mr Justice Edward Murray handed Plumb concurrent life sentences with a minimum term of 16 years for each of his three offences – minus 280 days spent on remand – the judge said they had been ‘particularly brutal and degrading’.
While Plumb’s ‘gross obesity’ meant the plot was ‘unlikely to succeed’, Mr Edward Justice Murray added: ‘It’s fortunate you didn’t’ succeed in finding one or more others who were physically more able.’
The defendant, who stood as the sentence was read out, initially showed no reaction but after hearing the words ‘take him down’, he turned to the female security guard and muttered: ‘Fifteen years to kill myself.’
The judge said a victim impact statement from the TV star, showing the devastating impact of his crime, will not be read out in public but added Plumb’s actions had had a ‘life-changing impact’ on Ms Willoughby ‘both privately and professionally’.
Prosecuting, Alison Morgan KC, told the court: ‘The wishes of the victim are absolutely clear that the document should remain private and restricted.’
Some of the details of Plumb’s ‘carefully planned’ plot were ‘so depraved and vile’ that they were not reported by the media.
Police body-worn video of obsessed kidnap plotter Gavin Plumb being arrested
Gavin Plumb had previously appeared on a BBC show about weight loss
Sentencing Plumb earlier this month Mr Justice Edward Murray (pictured) said he had ‘no doubt’ the security guard’s plans for Holly Willoughby were ‘considerably more than a fantasy’
His plans were said to have a ‘catastrophic’ and ‘life changing’ impact on Ms Willoughby.
Mr Justice Murray said he had ‘no doubt’ the security guard’s plans for Holly Willoughby were ‘considerably more than a fantasy’.
He said: ‘Over a number of years, you pursued an unhealthy sexual obsession with Holly Willoughby that led you ultimately to plan over that period to kidnap, to rape and to murder her.
‘You intended to harm her husband and her children as part of your plan.’
The judge added: ‘The jury saw through your various lies that you told at the trial, and convicted you of these offences. I have no doubt that this was all considerably more than a fantasy to you.’
Jurors heard that Plumb assembled a ‘restraint kit’, which he filmed laid out on his bed. Hand and ankle shackles, a ball gag, cat o’nine tails, metal cable ties and rope were among the items said to have been put together by the 37-year-old.
Earlier in the trial the jury heard Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, discussing a ‘dungeon-style room’ big enough for a bed where the 43-year-old presenter would be held captive.
He allegedly said the things he planned to do to the former This Morning host would put him on ‘death row’.
Gavin Plumb pictured in his underpants as he is arrested by a policewoman over the plot to kidnap Holly Willoughby in October last year
Plumb first revealed his intention to target Ms Willoughby with a post on a forum called ‘Abduct Lovers’, which was being monitored by an undercover police officer based in Minnesota.
He told the officer, who was using the pseudonym David Nelson, that he was ‘definitely serious’ about his plot to kidnap Ms Willoughby, leaving the officer with the impression that there was an ‘imminent threat’ to her.
The policeman had never heard of the TV presenter but felt sufficiently concerned about her safety that he contacted Plumb to find out more about his plans.
While the US-based officer’s real name will never be known to protect his safety and avoid jeapordising future investigations, his work was absolutely crucial to bringing Plumb to justice.
Mr Nelson told Chelmsford Crown Court that Abduct Lovers was a group on an encrypted messaging app called Kik where users discussed kidnap, rape, and murder.
The officer, who specialises in using social media to identify planned abductions, rapes and murders, said Plumb came to his attention on October 3 last year after posting four photos of Ms Willoughby, who he didn’t recognise at the time, with the words ‘the one in the public eye that I want’.
After contacting Plumb – who used the handle Big Bear – he used ‘open questions’ to establish the level of his intent and was told he had an ‘abduction kit’. He also received a photo of a bottle of chloroform, a powerful anaesthetic.
‘At that point in the conversation, it was quite alarming,’ he told jurors.
Mr Nelson also asked for details of the plot and was told: ‘We’ll jump the outer wall, break in, chloroform both her and her husband, tie both up with zip ties and gag both, take her out of the house and take her out in her car.’
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