Nottingham killer 'heard voices and went to M15 begging them to make it stop'

24 January 2024 , 15:38

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Killer Valdo Calocane had his manslaughter pleas accepted (Image: PA)

The killer who knifed three people to death in an early morning rampage through Nottingham heard voices in his head and went to spy agency MI5 begging them to make it stop.

Valdo Calocane killed university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, as they walked home from a night out. The 32-year-old then stabbed beloved school caretaker Ian Coates 15 times, stealing his van and leaving him to die in the street.

Calocane went on to ram three people, who the court heard were extremely fortunate to survive before officers eventually Tasered and arrested him. Yesterday he had his not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter plea accepted.

But the killer suffered an extensive history of mental health issues and Nottingham Crown Court heard how his paranoid schizophrenia was “untreatable”. As a result of this, the court was told how he heard voices in his head - this got so bad that he, at one point, went to MI5 asking them to make it stop.

Dr Ross Mirvis, one of the three psychiatric experts to give evidence today, is currently treating Calocane at Ashworth Hospital. The killer is held in isolation here and can only see visitors through glass. Peter Joyce KC, for Calocane, asked Dr Mirvis: "He told you the voices in his head were a mixture of male and female?"

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The doctor replied: "Correct." Mr Joyce asked: "They (the voices) could be insulting, telling him to fight hospital staff?" He replied: "He said that at times." Mr Joyce said: "He told you the 2023 attacks happened because the voices said if he did not do as he was told they would kill his family?" Dr Mirvis replied: "Yes."

And during one “desperate episode” Calocane tried to hand himself in to the MI5 security service. Mr Joyce asked Dr Nigel Blackwood, another of the three experts about the incident on May 31, 2021. He asked the doctor: "You know that he surrendered himself to MI5 at their HQ essentially to stop them controlling him?" Dr Blackwood replied: "That's right."

Calocane hid in the shadows, the court heard, as the two university students returned from a night out at 4am. He then attacked them from behind, continuing even as Grace tried to fight him off, leaving them both to die in the street.

School caretaker Ian Coates (Miro Photography)

Hockey player Grace O'Malley-Kumar

He then walked casually through Nottingham, like nothing had happened, and around 5am tried to break into a hostel through a ground floor window. The killer tried to haul himself through the window before a hand reached out and an unknown hero pushed him back.

Seemingly discouraged, Calocane walked onwards, less then 15 minutes later he encountered Ian Coates, 65, and stabbed him as well, leaving him to die as he stole his van. He headed for the city centre, swerving across the road to hit one pedestrian on Milton Street in terrifying footage. He then hit two others waiting to cross a road in Upper Parliament Street.

Barnaby Webber had started planning his life beyond university when he was killed (PA)

Thankfully Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski and Sharon Miller all survived the horrific ram attack and police were able to catch up with Calocane. Officers found him behind the wheel, dagger in hand, where they Tasered and arrested him.

Kieren Williams