Warning: This page contains distressing details
Gavin Plumb, who's serving a life sentence for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby, has lost an appeal against his sentence
Absent of the defendant or any family members, court remained silent as the decision was handed down, says our reporter
Delivering the result, judges said the violence plotted against Willoughby "was of the gravest and highest possible kind"
They said Plumb's previous convictions - including for attempted kidnap in 2006 - made the threats against the presenter "gravely concerning"
Judges also said Plumb's "personal circumstances" - that he was "substantially immobile, perhaps due to obesity" - would've made it "difficult for him to carry out these offences"
After being found guilty in July last year, 38-year-old Plumb was told he would serve a minimum of 16 years in prison before being considered for release - a sentence that remains in place
The hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice has ended with Gavin Plumb losing his appeal against his sentence.
His life sentence, with a 16-year minimum term remains in place for his plot to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby.
Thank you for joining us for our live updates page. A summary of today's appeal hearing is here.
As for what the judges said, their remarks were delivered by Lord Justice Edis, who said:
In case you missed the hearing, here's what the opposing legal teams said at the appeal court.
Barristers for Gavin Plumb argued:
The Crown Prosecution Service opposed the appeal and said:
Laura Foster
Senior reporter
Gavin Plumb from Harlow was found guilty of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder television presenter Holly Willoughby
In June and July 2024, I went to Chelmsford Crown Court for every day of Gavin Plumb's trial to cover the story for BBC News.
There was a lot of evidence shown to the jury involving online messages, photographs, voice notes and police body camera footage.
This podcast tells us how Gavin Plumb was caught.
Cameras were not present at the Court of Appeal for today's hearing, but when Gavin Plumb was sentenced in 2024, we had a live feed of the judge passing his sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Mr Justice Murray described some of the plans Plumb discussed as "particularly sadistic, brutal and degrading".
As Gavin Plumb's appeal against his life sentence is dismissed at the Court of Appeal in London, we look back at what was said after his trial in last year.
Det Ch Insp Greg Wood, who led Essex Police's investigation, spoke to the BBC after his conviction in July 2024.
He described Plumb as an "obsessive loner" who assembled "all the items he needed to cause Holly Willoughby some serious harm".
"If the American officer hadn't contacted us… I've got no doubt that Gavin Plumb could've gone on to commit some really horrific crimes," he added.
Nicola Rice, specialist prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, also said Plumb's plan was "chilling".
"Gavin Plumb is a dangerous man who plotted unspeakable violence against one of the nation's most familiar faces," she said.
"Despite his attempts to pass himself off as a harmless fantasist, the prosecution persuaded the jury that Plumb posed a very real threat."
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
The judge continues by saying Plumb remains “clearly dangerous” to the public.
He concludes the hearing by adding: "There is no way of knowing when or if that will cease to be the case."
All three judges then rise and exit the courtroom here in London.
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
Absent of the defendant or seemingly any family members, the courtroom remained silent as Lord Justice Edis gave the ruling.
He is continuing to deliver remarks on how he and his colleagues came to their decision.
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
Explaining the decision, Lord Justice Edis says of Plumb: “He was not only inciting one potential accomplice, he was inciting one after another, after another - hoping to find one who would actually help.”
The three judges at the Court of Appeal have dismissed Gavin Plumb’s appeal against his life sentence.
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
“The harm which was intended was of the gravest and highest possible kind,” Lord Justice Edis continues.
The appeal court judge tells the hearing that if Plumb had successfully recruited people to help him, he would have gone through with the plan.
However, the judge says: “The plan was unlikely to succeed. He would’ve had a great deal of difficulty in carrying it out.“
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
The judge is now referencing Plumb's previous two convictions for attempted kidnap in 2006 and another two for false imprisonment in 2008.
He says they were "gravely concerning" when considering the circumstances of his plot against Holly Willoughby.
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
"They were horrifying and contained graphic detail of what the applicant [Gavin Plumb] proposed to do to Holly Willoughby," Lord Justice Edis says of Plumb's plan and the messages he sent online.
"They are distressing even for seasoned professionals to read."
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
After suggesting Plumb's plot may have been unrealistic, the judge then explains how he planned to overcome the barriers he faced.
"He was attempting to overcome those handicaps and obstacles in his path by recruiting other people to help him," Lord Justice Edis continues.
"It was precisely because he was not able to carry things out on his own that he needed help."
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
Lord Justice Edis repeats a phrase we've already heard several times in this case - that Plumb was "obsessed" with Willoughby.
He then goes on to reference why Plumb's plan may not have been feasible.
"It is important to note that the applicant’s personal circumstances would have made it very difficult for him to carry out these offences," he says.
"He appears to have been substantially immobile, perhaps due to obesity.
"He is not in good health, he cannot drive and does not have a car.
"He doesn’t have access to the sort of property that might serve as a temporary prison during which a kidnap victim could be held, raped and murdered."
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
The judge reminds the court that Plumb was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years.
He says the sentencing judge, Mr Justice Murray, imposed concurrent sentences on each of the three counts Plumb was convicted of.
"In these circumstances, it was not an error to impose the same sentence concurrently in respect of all three counts," Lord Justice Edis says.
Courts either impose concurrent or consecutive jail terms for each offence.
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
Lord Justice Edis is continuing to summarise the facts of the case.
He says Plumb was active on a "chat room on the dark web where people exchanged plans to abduct lovers".
Image source, Essex PoliceLewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
Gavin Plumb spoke with several people about kidnapping Holly Willoughby and subjecting her to "a series of brutal rapes", the judge says.
"Clearly what was contemplated was conduct of the kind which frequently involves a risk of the death of the victim - and not infrequently in her death," he adds.
Lord Justice Edis says Willoughby's death was “specifically contemplated and intended” by Plumb.
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
Lord Justice Edis is now delivering the decision made by himself, Mr Justice Martin Spencer and Ms Justice Norton.
He begins by saying Plumb's case attracted "widespread publicity" due to the victim being the TV presenter Holly Willoughby.
Lewis Adams
Reporting from the Court of Appeal
The three judges presiding over Gavin Plumb's appeal have returned to court seven here at the Court of Appeal.
They are about to give their decision, which we'll be reporting on live as it comes.