A woman has branded Gavin Plumb a “dangerous predator” after narrowly escaping a kidnap attempt.

She has said Holly Willoughby is only safe now Plumb has been found guilty. Plumb wept at Chelmsford Crown Court today as a jury found him guilty of planning to kidnap, rape and murder the former This Morning presenter. Holly thanked the US undercover police officer for helping stop the obsessed 37-year-old in his tracks and said women “should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes”.

The jury took 12 hours and 19 minutes to unanimously convict him of soliciting murder and inciting rape and kidnap. Following the guilty verdicts, Essex Police’s senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood said Plumb was “a dangerous, predatory individual who was intent on causing the most serious harm to his victim”.

A woman, who has requested to remain anonymous, has said she is still “haunted” by the day Plumb, aged 19 at the time, tried to take her off a train. She was sitting alone on her way to Stanstead Airport when he launched his attack. Recalling the incident, she said: “As soon as he walked over to me all of my senses said something was not right. My hair stood on end and I froze.”

She claimed Plumb touched her bare leg and told The Sun: “His hand was massive. It was like a huge paw. I felt physically sick, he repulsed me then and I am still haunted by it now.” The woman recalled how Plumb bent down to her and motioned for her to remain silent before flashing an ID card at her.

She said he handed her a piece of paper that read: “I am a police officer. You have to get off at the next station for a quick chat.” The woman remains traumatised by the incident that took place in 2006. She recalled how she didn’t say a word to Plumb and watched him get off at the next stop.

She remained on the train “frozen” and got off at the airport where she ran to station security. Transport Police detained Plumb after he disembarked at Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. He was searched on the platform and was found to be carrying a fake black handgun and three pieces of rope.

During the investigation, police found Plumb had tried to kidnap a second woman in the same week by falsely impersonating a police officer, and asking her to leave the train at the next station with him. He was later found with an imitation firearm, rope and various notes which were used or intended to be used to deceive women into leaving public transportation with him.

Plumb pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted kidnap. He was sentenced that year to a prison term of 12 months, suspended for two years with supervision and activity requirements. He went on to attack two 16-year-olds in Woolworths two years later where he held the two teenagers at knifepoint and bound one of their hands together in a storage room at the store where they all worked.

After being sentenced to two years in prison he was then released in 2010. Plumb is due to be sentenced next Friday at Chelmsford Crown Court. Following the guilty verdict, Holly Willoughby said:“As women, we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes. 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.

“Thank you to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Rt Hon Mr Justice Murray, Alison Morgan KC, the members of the jury and all involved in this case for ensuring that justice was done and that the defendant will not be able to harm any more women. 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.”

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