Last week, Gavin Plumb was charged with soliciting to kidnap and murder Willoughby. Appearing in court last Friday (October 6), Plumb faced charges of planning to assemble a “kidnap and restraint kit”, along with encouraging a third party to travel to the UK, to carry out the alleged offences.
In court, it was revealed that Plumb had colluded with another man online to create this "detailed plan" to kidnap Willoughby, with the other man due to arrive from the US next week.
The accused is due to appear before a plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 3. He will be remanded in custody until then.
On the case itself, Detective Superintendent Ron Kirby of the Essex and Kent serious crime directorate 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".
According to reports, this has been a terrifying ordeal for Holly Willoughby, with the presenter left "distraught" by the news. The presenter's home is currently under police guard.
A source has since added, “given the terrifying things she has learned this week, the question of returning to work could not be further from her mind".
An ITV spokesperson also gave this brief statement, “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".
