Defendant’s ‘dark’ thoughts about Holly Willoughby

A security guard accused of plotting to abduct, rape and murder Holly Willoughby admitted to a court his thoughts about the TV personality were “dark”.

Gavin Plumb, 37, said messages allegedly describing his “ultimate fantasy” were “not the sort of route I would normally go down”.

Giving evidence at Chelmsford Crown Court, Mr Plumb said that with hindsight his online chats were “massively regrettable” and carrying out those fantasies was “something I knew that was never going to happen”.

The defendant, from Harlow, Essex, has denied soliciting murder, inciting kidnap and inciting rape.

He is alleged to have masterminded a plot that involved taking Ms Willoughby, best known for presenting ITV’s This Morning programme, by force from her home and keeping her in a “dungeon”.

Giving evidence earlier, Mr Plumb said he had often frequented online chat rooms that acted as “fantasy sites”.

Asked by his defence barrister Sasha Wass KC what he fantasised about, Mr Plumb said: “Having sex with other people.

“It would be people that other people know or a celeb – or it would be random people.”

The , notified the FBI of the defendant’s “alarming” plan before UK authorities were informed.

The defendant would continue to give evidence on Friday as the trial continued.