A man accused of plotting to kidnap and kill Holly Willoughby is to stand trial (Picture: PA)
The man accused of a plot to kidnap and murder Holly Willoughby has arrived in court.
On Monday, shopping centre security officer Gavin Plumb is appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court in a trial – which is estimated to last around two weeks – after charges relating to the This Morning presenter.
A jury of five men and nine women have been sworn in, and they have read the charges he is accused of.
The 37 year old is charged with soliciting a man – David Nelson – to commit murder, and incitement to commit kidnap by planning to assemble a ‘kidnap and restraint kit’.
He is accused of encouraging a third party to travel to the UK from the US with a ‘detailed plan’ to carry out the alleged offences.
Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, denied all charges at an earlier hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, while he is standing trial at the same court from Monday.
The 43-year-old presenter will not be attending the trial.
Gavin Plumb has been accused of a plot to kidnap and kill the presenter (Picture: Rex)
The 37-year-old man denied all charges at an earlier hearing (Picture: PA)
It was reported that at the time of the alleged plot, a police guard was placed outside her London home, where she lives with her husband Dan Baldwin and their three children.
On the day Plumb was charged, This Morning host Alison Hammond said on the show: ‘We are obviously all shocked to hear the news and we want to send our love and biggest hugs to Holly and her family.’
Willoughby stepped down from This Morning in October (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Willoughby announced in October last year that she was stepping down from This Morning after 14 years on the ITV show.
In a social media statement at the time, she said: ‘I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning.
‘To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together.
She appeared on the show for 14 years (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
She returned to Dancing On Ice with new co-host Stephen Mulhern earlier this year (Picture: Kieron McCarron/ITV/Shutterstock)
‘Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you.
‘Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You’ve been so loyal, so supportive and the best company every day.’
The presenter has since hosted Dancing On Ice with Stephen Mulhern, and she is set to front a Netflix show – to be released next year – in which adventurer Bear Grylls hunts down celebrities in the jungle.
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