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OWATONNA, Minn. 鈥� A British man was convicted this summer after an undercover Minnesota police officer thwarted his plan to kidnap, assault and kill Holly Willoughby, a popular English television star.

Gavin Plumb was arrested at his Essex home on Oct. 4, 2023, after the undercover officer received a video Plumb shared with him, which included footage of weapons he planned to use during the abduction.

The undercover officer alerted the FBI, which in turn alerted British authorities.

The undercover officer obtained the video from Plumb after gaining his trust over the course of two years through private online messages. Plumb believed the undercover officer, who used the alias David Nelson, was going to help him carry out the violent attack.

, they discovered the weapons depicted in the video, along with thousands of photos of Willoughby and detailed information about her daily movements.

The day after Plumb鈥檚 arrest, Willoughby was absent from her role as host of the 鈥淢orning Sofa,鈥� a popular British morning show. Roughly one week later, she stepped down from her position.

The Owatonna Police Department Detective Unit uses online platforms to execute covert operations aimed at individuals engaging in child trafficking and other violent sexual crimes.

鈥淲hile our primary focus is addressing public safety within our jurisdiction, we frequently encounter information that assists law enforcement agencies in apprehending offenders in other areas,鈥� Owatonna Police Department Capt. Joshua Sorensen said in a statement sent to Forum News Service. 鈥淲ith the World Wide Web, this work can expand around the globe as we鈥檝e seen in this case.鈥�

The Owatonna detective first grew suspicious of Plumb in 2021 after he posted an image of Willoughby in the 鈥淎bduct lovers鈥� online forum, according to the

The image was accompanied by information that he had collected, including her morning routine and details about her home鈥檚 security.

Using the name David Nelson, the officer began privately interacting with Plumb to gather more details.

Through their series of online conversations, Plumb revealed his plan to take Willoughby from her home before slitting her throat, according to .

The video of his abduction kit escalated the threat. Plumb was prepared.

The Owatonna officer alerted the FBI, which in turn contacted British authorities. Plumb was arrested at his home later that day.

When officers told Plumb he was being arrested on suspicion of plotting to take Willoughby, he revealed his obsession.

鈥淚鈥檓 not gonna lie, she is a fantasy of mine,鈥� Plumb said,

Plumb was charged with soliciting murder, encouraging or assisting the commission of rape, and encouraging or assisting the commission of kidnap.

On July 12, 2024, he was convicted on all three charges.

The Owatonna detective was a key part of the case against Plumb. Testifying at his trial, the officer explained how he gained the trust of Plumb, starting in 2021. Through private messages, Plumb believed he was conversing with a man named David Nelson, who shared his obsession with Willoughby.

Plumb also believed the man posed by the undercover officer was going to help him take Willoughby.

鈥淭his work requires a creative ability to engage in online chats to build trust and a willingness to maintain an online presence,鈥� Sorensen said in a statement sent to Forum News Service. 鈥淲hile these online investigations are just part of this detective鈥檚 regular work, it is due to a strong commitment to and interest in working covert cases across various social media platforms that led to this case being discovered.鈥�

Plumb鈥檚 defense team argued that his actions were simply fantasy, yet that didn鈥檛 sit well with the court. The prosecution argued that evidence collected at his home showed intent to harm Willoughby.

鈥淗e tried to claim throughout the trial that he was an obsessive fan and a fantasist 鈥� that is simply not true,鈥� Essex Police鈥檚 senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood, said in a statement. 鈥淗e planned this attack on Ms. Willoughby over a two-year period, scoping her movements, seeking to elicit help from others to carry out his wicked plan, buying chloroform and other items to incapacitate, restrain and inflict violence upon her.鈥�

Plumb鈥檚 history of violent sexual crimes didn鈥檛 help that line of defense, either. He has past convictions for kidnapping and attempted kidnapping, according to the Essex Police.

Plumb was handed a life sentence on July 12, 2024. He鈥檚 eligible for parole in 16 years.