The TV presenter who was the target of a kidnap and rape plot has released a statement, saying “women should be not made to feel unsafe going about their daily lives.”
Holly Willoughby, the UK’s former lead presenter of ITV’s flagship magazine show This Morning, spoke publicly after Gavin Plumb was convicted of assembling a tool kit to use for highly sexualised violence against her. He denied soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape. He was arrested and charged after he unwittingly disclosed his plans online to an undercover police officer in the U.S.
Plumb was convicted on Thursday following an eight-day trial and will be sentenced in the upcoming days.
Willoughby, who took a leave of absence after the plot against her was made public, released a statement after the verdict:
“As women, we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes,” she said. “I will forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response.
She thanked others involved “for ensuring that justice was done and that the defendant will not be able to harm any more women”, adding: “I would also like to commend the bravery of his previous victims for speaking up at the time. Without their bravery this conviction may not have been possible.”
Willoughby left This Morning shortly after the plot was revealed. She had been under police protection the week that Plumb was arrested and taken into custody in October. At the time, she said on Instagram she was leaving This Morning “for me and my family.”
Having already had a difficult year following the allegations against her ex-This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield, Willoughby then spent some time away from TV screens before landing a role presenting ITV’s Dancing on Ice. She is also now making a Netflix survival series with Bear Grylls titled Bear Hunt.
The post UK Presenter Holly Willoughby Says “Women Should Not Feel Unsafe” After Rape, Kidnap Plotter Is Convicted appeared first on Deadline.
