A SECURITY guard accused of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby tried to snatch two women from a train and pulled a knife on teen girls, a court heard.
Gavin Plumb, 37, passed one terrified victim a note telling her he had a gun and that he would shoot "you and myself and everyone else" if she did not follow him off the train, it was said.
He wrote: "I have got a gun. All you have to do is keep quiet. Do what I say. So just stand up and get off at the next stop with me. Don't cry or make a sound.
"Don't stop me from touching you because I won't hurt you. If you do all of this, no-one will get hurt but if you don't I am going to shoot you and myself and everyone else."
Two days later - armed with an imitation firearm and rope - he pretended to be a police officer to lure a second woman off a train, jurors were told.
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Chelmsford Crown Court heard this was before Plumb allegedly tried to abduct Holly, 43, who has waived her anonymity in connection with an accusation of assisting or encouraging rape.
Plumb also pulled a knife on two 16-year-old girls while working in Woolworths and told them: "Get to the back of the storeroom", jurors were told.
The court heard he then took out a rope and tape and bound one of the girls while the other managed to flee and raise the alarm.
The previous kidnap attempts took place in 2006 and 2008 and were "real offences committed against real women", prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said.
She added: "When you consider the discussions about Holly Willoughby and what this defendant planned to do to her, you will do so in the context of those earlier offences.
"They tell you that this defendant knew what it would take to terrify and overpower a woman.
"He was also someone who had chosen to do this for real, not just as a fantasy."
Jurors heard Plumb spent years fixating on the ex-This Morning star before he hatched the "graphic and sexually motivated" scheme.
The court was told Plumb was "obsessed" with Holly and had gathered a cache of 10,000 photos of the star.
He also tracked her movements and activities using social media and had been planning the attack for "some time", Ms Morgan said.
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Plumb allegedly planned to snatch Holly from her family home using chloroform to "easily restrain" her husband Dan Baldwin.
He then wanted to take her to a "dungeon" where her screams would not be heard "for miles", the court heard.
The prosecutor said Plumb's plans "would have involved catastrophic violence against her" if they were not disrupted.
He spent hours planning an attack on her that would involve "violence, rape and...ultimately murder", Ms Morgan added.
Jurors were told he purchased a "restraint kit" - including 400 "heavy duty" cable ties - that he would use to "stupefy and tie her up".
He allegedly detailed his plot in web chats to an undercover police officer using the alias David Nelson, who was based in the US.
Fantasy isn't enough any more. I want the real thing.
Gavin Plumb
Plumb is also accused of exchanging messages with someone called "Marc" - including sharing pictures of Holly's house and discussing attacking her in a "home invasion".
In a voice message to Marc, Plumb discussed how they could "pick out outfits for her we like" and spoke about the use of chloroform.
One said: "We're then going to force her to make a video that she came with us under her own free will...so that covers us."
He also allegedly shared "deepfake pornography images of Holly", it was said.
The jury were told they talked about her sister and other celebs and Plumb mentioned "items to control" Holly.
Ms Morgan said: "It was not just the ramblings of a fantasist.
"The defendant had carefully planned what he would do and how he would do it, purchasing items that would assist him in carrying out the attack."
The prosecutor said it is likely Plumb may suggest it was "all a fantasy" but jurors must decide if his exchanges were just talk or if the "dark depravity" suggests he meant what he said.
Jurors heard at one point he told Marc: "It's been my ultimate fantasy for way too long.
"Fantasy isn't enough any more.
"I want the real thing."
I’m not gonna lie. She is a fantasy of mine.
Gavin Plumb when he was arrested
Plumb allegedly started plotting the horror on December 27, 2021, but his plan was foiled on October 5 last year, the court was told.
He had been unknowingly speaking to undercover cop Nelson on an online group called Abduct Lovers.
The court was told Plumb used the alias "BigBear" to post pictures of Holly and said he had a "load of info" on her - including when she has security and what time she gets up.
After Nelson reached out, Plumb said in a voice note: "Thought I’d give you an update, I’ve had a member of the Holly group reach out to me.
"He knows the location of an abandoned building and he's up for it big time. Erm he's gonna let me know when he can get time off work and then we’re off mate.
"We’re gonna go and do stakeout and bang job done."
When he was arrested, Plumb said: "I’m not gonna lie. She is a fantasy of mine."
Holly was due to go on air to present This Morning but was told of the alleged plot just moments before.
The mum-of-three, 43, announced later that month she was stepping down from the show after 14 years.
She said in a social media post at the time that she felt: "I have to make this decision for me and my family."
Holly has since hosted Dancing on Ice and is taking part in a Netflix show with Bear Grylls.
Plumb denies the charges. The trial continues.
