![[2025] EWCA Crim 1461](https://backend.juristeca.com/files/emisores/logo_sHeHK8V.png){kind=logo}
Introduction
Introduction
On 4 July 2024, following a trial in the Crown Court at Chelmsford before Murray J and a jury, the applicant was convicted of all three counts on an indictment. Count 1 alleged an offence of soliciting the murder of Holly Willoughby, contrary to section 4 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861. Count 2 alleged an offence contrary to section 45 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 of encouraging or assisting others to kidnap Holly Willoughby, believing that the offence would be committed. Count 3 is an offence under the same provision, but on this occasion encouraging or assisting the commission of the rape of Holly Willoughby.
The chronological sequence of events is that counts 2 and 3 were committed by the applicant over a long period of time during which he attempted to persuade people known (accurately or otherwise) as "Marc" and "Ryan" and others to take part with him in the abduction and kidnap of Holly Willoughby and subsequently in a series of brutal rapes. That offending took place, as we have said, over a long period of time. Clearly what was contemplated was conduct of the kind which frequently involves a risk of the death of the victim, and not infrequently in her death.
At the end of that period the conduct which came to form count 1 took place in which Holly Willoughby's death was specifically contemplated and intended.
In sentencing the applicant, the trial judge said this:
"Over a number of years you pursued an unhealthy sexual obsession with Holly Willoughby that led you ultimately to plan over that period to kidnap, to rape and to murder her.
You researched her home address, her security arrangements, her daily routine, her route to work, her family. You assembled a restraint kit [equipment designed to incapacitate the victim, including, for example, ankle ties, handcuffs and suchlike]. You bought what you believed to be chloroform to incapacitate her and her husband. You intended to harm her husband and her children as part of your plan. You attempted to recruit several people to help you. You discussed with Marc and David Nelson, and no doubt others, in hideous and revolting detail the prolonged sexual violence that you intended to inflict on Miss Willoughby once you abducted her and had her under your control.
You had previously been convicted of terrifying offences involving the threat of sexual violence against four different young women. I found you to be dangerous. You solicited David Nelson [an American law enforcement officer whose role involved participating under an assumed name (David Nelson) in a particular chat room on the dark web where people exchanged plans to abduct lovers) to murder Ms Willoughby or to assist you in murdering her. You encouraged Marc and David Nelson to participate in your plan to kidnap and rape Ms Willoughby.
The jury saw through the various lies that you told at the trial and convicted you of these offences …"
That thumbnail sketch of the facts captures the essence of the conduct which led to the applicant's convictions. We will have to add some further detail in what follows, but the essential thrust of the criminality is there encapsulated.