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".
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