Holly Willoughby kidnap trial hears evidence from defendant

The trial was previously told that Mr Plumb “spent many hours planning an attack” on Ms Willoughby “that would involve violence, rape and ultimately murder”.

He is alleged to have shared these plans with two other people online, including a vision of using chloroform to incapacitate the broadcaster after breaking into her house.

Asked about the allegations, Mr Plumb admitted he had “dark” chats about her online after watching her on daytime TV.

“It’s not the sort of route I would normally go down for a chat, but it was a chat that I was having,” the defendant said.

“Looking back at it now, it’s something that is massively regrettable because it’s not the usual chat I would participate in.”

When asked why he continued to participate, Mr Plumb responded: “It’s going to sound really bad, but it was gratification.

“It was something I knew that was never going to happen, I’m just passing the time chatting.”