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A look at the life of Nottingham attacker Valdo Calocane

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The chilling nickname his former flatmates gave him has been revealed
The chilling nickname his former flatmates gave him has been revealed

EVIL Valdo Calocane shocked the nation when he went on a killing rampage in Nottingham in June 2023.

That fateful day is now being examined in the BBC's The Big Cases.

Valdo Calocane was arrested on suspicion of murder less than two hours after three people were killed in Nottingham in June 2023 eiqruidehiduprw
Valdo Calocane was arrested on suspicion of murder less than two hours after three people were killed in Nottingham in June 2023Credit: Pixel8000

Who is Valdo Calocane?

Valdo Calocane is an ex-University of Nottingham student who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2022.

His former flatmates nicknamed him "serial killer" after he put one of them in a headlock when asked to pick up dirty washing.

Nottingham Crown Court was told Calocane was suffering from "extreme" mental illness at the time, including paranoid schizophrenia.

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Tragedy first struck around 4am on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, with Calocane arrested on suspicion of murder in the hours that followed.

He was taken into police custody less than two hours after the stabbings.

What sentence did Valdo Calocane receive?

Valdo was locked up in Ashworth high-security hospital after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

This means he will not be released while he continues to pose a risk to the public - which could be for the rest of his life.

On January 23, 2024, prosecutors accepted his plea - meaning Calocane did not stand trial for murder.

Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC told Nottingham Crown Court at the time: "The plea to each offence of manslaughter is on the basis of diminished responsibility resulting from the medical condition of paranoid schizophrenia."

Who are the Nottingham attack victims?

Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar

Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar lost their lives at the hands of evil Calocane
Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar lost their lives at the hands of evil CalocaneCredit: PA

University students Grace and Barnaby, both 19, were the first two victims named.

The pair were making their way home to student accommodation from a nightclub on the morning they died.

The teens were said to be just five minutes from home when the horror unfolded.

Grace was an up-and-coming England hockey star, and had risen up the ranks through London's Southgate Hockey Club.

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Barnaby was a keen cricketer, and his family dubbed him "beautiful, brilliant, and bright".

His parents David and Emma Webber described the heartache they feel over losing their "beautiful, brilliant, bright" son.

They said: "Complete devastation is not enough to describe our pain and loss at the senseless murder of our son.

"Barnaby Philip John Webber was a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to.

"A talented and passionate cricketer, who was over the moon to have made selection to his university cricket team."

Ian Coates

Ian Coates was the third victim killed in Nottingham
Ian Coates was the third victim killed in NottinghamCredit: Pixel8000

Ian Coates, a school caretaker, was named the day after he was killed.

Ian worked at the L.E.A.D. Academy Trust and Huntingdon Academy, where staff paid tribute to him.

The headteacher where Ian worked dubbed him "a much-loved colleague who always went the extra mile for the benefit of our children".

L.E.A.D CEO Diana Owen said she was "deeply shocked and
saddened to hear about" the school caretakers death.

What happened in the Nottingham attacks?

Police rushed to Ilkeston Road just after 4am on June 13, 2023, after witnesses revealed they heard "blood-curdling screams".

Onlookers described the horror moment they claim they saw the knifing take place before police swarmed the scene.

This was understood to be when Grace and Barnaby were killed.

Police were then called to Milton Street where the stolen van was used to run over three people - leaving one man in critical condition with two others suffering minor injuries.

Detectives - including terror cops - believe Valdo had stolen the van from nearby Magdala Road, where he killed the vehicle's owner.

This is where Ian is believed to have been knifed to death.

CCTV footage showed a man trying to break into a homeless shelter at 4.08am.

He was punched away by one of the home's residents, Trevor Proverb, 59.

Valdo was ultimately arrested at about 5.30am, after being Tasered by cops.

Where is Valdo Calocane from?

Calocane is understood to be from West Africa and is not British.

But he is a legal UK resident and had been settled here since at least his teens.

Calocane came to the UK from Guinea-Bissau with his family in 2007 when he was 16.

He grew up in a devout church-going family in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire and was described as "bright and studious".

Valdo did not have a criminal record but is thought to have been on the radar of MI5 after knocking on their door to ask for help.

Charlotte Everett

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