Pictures show whips and handcuffs seized from house of man accused of Holly Willoughby kidnap plot

Disturbing pictures show whips, gags, and handcuffs seized from the house of a man accused of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby.

Security guard Gavin Plumb told Chelmsford Crown Court his “dark” discussions were “massively regrettable”, but insisted the alleged plans were “a fantasy” and not real as he gave evidence at his trial on Friday (June 28).

Jurors were shown pictures of the items seized, as well as bodyworn footage of Mr Plumb's arrest. He said he bought bottles of chloroform to clean a “large stain next to my fridge” and purchased a BDSM kit, including a set of handcuffs, in 2014 “to rekindle my relationship with my ex-partner”.

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He apologised for the “graphic and violent” contents of some of the chats, and said some of the words he had used were a way to “get my gratification, move on”.

The 37-year-old said he got a “rush of excitement” about the thought of keeping Ms Willoughby in a “dungeon”, but again insisted: “I knew it was online chat.” He conceded that his internet conversations were “coming across” like a genuine plot, but told jurors: “There’s no plan.”

Plumb told the jury he did not ask a man who turned out to be an undercover officer for “help” in carrying out the alleged plot.

Giving evidence on Friday, the defendant also said his WhatsApp communications with a man who went by the name of Marc were “not the kind of chat I would normally participate in”. He said in his discussions with Marc, when he said he needed to “follow her movements” and “set everything up”, he was talking about a “fantasy of setting up an abduction”.

Plumb agreed with his barrister Sasha Wass KC that