US police officer blocked man’s plan to abduct and kill Holly Willoughby, court told

Plumb gathered information about Willoughby on social media and followed her activities and movements, the court heard. Photograph: Rosaline Shahnavaz/The Guardian

A convicted violent offender planned to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby but was thwarted by an undercover officer based in the US, a court has heard.

Gavin Plumb, 37, was obsessed with the television presenter, amassing more than 10,000 images of her on his phone including deepfake pornography. He had carefully planned how to abduct her from her home, take her to his residence in Harlow, Essex, and murder her in an abandoned building, Chelmsford crown court heard.