Loner Gavin Plumb, 37, must serve a minimum of 15 years and 85 days after he was unanimously found guilty of masterminding a depraved scheme to target the former This Morning presenter who was his "ultimate fantasy" - in a home invasion.
The plot had a "life-changing" impact on the star, who waived her right to anonymity. Ms Willoughby chose to keep her victim personal statement private as Plumb was sentenced yesterday, but prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said the "extent of the shock and fear caused by this offending has been impossible to convey".
Plumb, who had attacked women twice before, was caught after he unwittingly revealed details of his kidnap plot to an undercover US officer in a chatroom called "Abduct Lovers". The officer was so concerned about the "immediate danger" facing the mother of three that he alerted the FBI, who contacted the UK authorities. After Plumb was arrested, officers later found more than a million images of women on his devices -including 10,322 of Ms Willoughby.
The shopping centre security guard, whose weight once ballooned to 35 stone, sobbed in the dock as he was found guilty of soliciting murder, incitement to rape, and incitement at Chelmsford Crown Court earlier this month. The trial heard how Plumb revealed to the undercover officer his plans to invade Ms Willoughby's home and tie up her husband before taking the star away to "enjoy her".
Denne historien er fra July 13, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra July 13, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Carse justifies England faith as the archetypal bold pick
If you won a boxing match after your opponent continually punched themselves in the face, how much credit can you take?
Tenacious Diallo the key to Amorim pressing machine
Old Trafford has not seen anything like this before.
Gold King Cole packs the Bridge with merry old souls
In the 83rd minute, the ball rolled to the feet of Cole Palmer in a bubble of space outside Aston Villa's box, and the crowd snapped to attention.
Vibrant Anfield marks the changing of the Guardiola
There was a lull in the noise, a break in the Anfield atmosphere, when a defiant chant emerged from a corner near Stefan Ortega’s goal.
What is so daunting about Spain's new data checks?
Q You have written about the new “red tape” for visitors to Spain. So, as well as your usual passport details you will give a contact number, address and email. Not exactly the Spanish Inquisition, is it?
Sectarian clashes claim at least 130 lives in Pakistan
At least 130 people were killed in deadly sectarian clashes in Pakistan's northwestern Kurram district in spite of a tentative ceasefire, days after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles carrying Shia Muslims, local officials said.
Coalition government likely in Ireland as count proceeds
Fianna Fail say decisions on power-sharing for another day’
How Syria's forgotten war is back on the world's agenda
Many believed the country was lost in an unsolvable conflict, until everything changed in a matter of days, writes Bel Trew
Assad regime scrambles to halt Syrian rebels’ advance
Civilians reportedly killed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes
Mother of poisoning victim says she knew she would die
Lawyer Simone White succumbed to the effects of methanol while backpacking in Laos with two of her childhood friends
