A 36-year-old man, arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap and murder British TV presenter Holly Willoughby, has been ordered to remain in custody after appearing in court on Friday.

Gavin Plumb, a shopping centre security officer, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, approximately 65 kilometres east of London. During the hearing, he confirmed his personal details, including his name, date of birth, address, and workplace. He is scheduled to attend a plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 3.

Essex Police arrested Plumb on Wednesday “on suspicion of conspiring to kidnap Holly Willoughby as part of an ongoing investigation.”

Lumb is charged with asking David Nelson, a US citizen, to commit murder and incite a kidnapping between October 2 and 5 in Harlow, Essex. The court heard that Nelson was scheduled to arrive in the UK from the US next week.

“This was an extremely fast-paced investigation, with many of our officers and national partners working overnight to secure these charges,” Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby of Essex Police said, per the BBC.

Willoughby, the presenter of ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and ‘Dancing on Ice,’ has been off air since Thursday. The 42-year-old is currently under round-the-clock security from ITV and the police at her home.

It is unclear how the police learned about the alleged kidnap plot, but they reportedly seized digital devices during the arrest. 

They informed ‘This Morning’ producers about the knowledge early Thursday morning, and Holly Willoughby was informed shortly before her on-air appearance. Alison Hammond replaced Willoughby to present the show without explanation.

“This news has come as a huge shock to everyone at ‘This Morning’ and ITV,” an ITV spokesperson said. “We are providing all of the support we can to Holly and her family at this incredibly distressing time.”

The BBC contacted Willoughby’s agent and publicist for comment, but they directed all inquiries to the police.

Kidnapping offences in the UK

In the UK, kidnapping offences have increased alongside other crimes. After declining for several years between 2003/04 and 2010/11, overall crime offences suddenly rose, reaching an eleven-year high of 6.43 million offences in 2019/20.

In 2022/23, the police in England and Wales recorded 7,420 kidnapping offences. This number is an increase from the previous year.

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), there are multiple types of kidnapping, such as kidnap for ransom, express kidnap, criminal vendetta kidnap, people smuggling kidnap, hoax or scam kidnap, and human trafficking kidnap, among others. 

The NCA’s Anti-Kidnap and Extortion Unit receives around 500 reports of planned kidnappings for ransom each year. However, these reports exclude child abduction since it is a separate offence.

Kidnapping for ransom is a serious crime that can have devastating consequences for the victim and their family. While there are many other reasons why people might kidnap someone, such as revenge, hatred, or sexual abuse, money is often the primary motive.

This is why public figures and people with high net worth (HNWIs) are more vulnerable to kidnapping schemes because they are perceived as having the means to pay a ransom. 

In April 2023, TV star Billy Murray claimed that an Eastern European gang had tried to kidnap his grandchildren. The actor told his social media followers that his daughter and her children were walking in Orsett, Essex, when a black Audi A6 blocked their path. The car’s driver and three others in the car approached his grandchildren and started a conversation. Luckily, his daughter’s partner, Mick, saw it and told the children to run.

One of the most effective ways for HNWIs to stay safe is to hire close protection officers (CPOs). CPOs are highly trained security professionals who can provide 24/7 protection. These professionals can accompany HNWIs on their travels and activities, as well as help develop and implement security plans for their homes and businesses.