Holly Willoughby kidnap plot trial – live: Undercover officer worried ‘immediate danger’ faced TV presenter

An undercover officer was worried Holly Willoughby faced “immediate danger”, the trial of a man accused of a plot to abduct, rape and murder the TV presenter has heard.

Gavin Plumb, 37, is appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court this week after being charged in October with soliciting a man to commit murder, incitement to kidnap and incitement to rape .

It was revealed under cross-examination on Thursday that the US officer wrote in his police report that he believed Ms Willoughby, 43, “may be in immediate danger of death”.

He also confirmed to jurors that he wrote he thought the star may be at risk of being raped or suffering bodily harm.

The officer, who worked under the alias David Nelson, earlier said he felt there was an “imminent threat” to Ms Willoughby after seeing a message posted by Plumb in the online group ‘Abduct Lovers’.

The defendant is accused of creating a “detailed plan” to carry out his “ultimate fantasy” of targeting Ms Willoughby, including allegedly assembling a “kidnap and restraint kit” of metal cable ties, a knife and chloroform – a liquid drug used to stupefy victims.

Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, denies all charges.