Homeless hero who punched 'knife attacker' says he 'wasn't getting in my gaff'

14 June 2023 , 23:00

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Homeless hero who punched 'knife attacker' says he 'wasn't getting in my gaff'

A homeless hero protected 50 vulnerable people staying in his hostel when a suspected triple killer tried to break in.

The man who brought terror to the streets of Nottingham is believed to have tried to force his way in through Trevor Proverb’s window.

But the former forklift driver, 59, who has lung and mobility problems, was having none of it.

He told the Mirror how he punched the intruder in the face, sending him reeling backwards, before slamming his window shut.

The early-morning raider returned moments later to try to smash the glass, before walking off.

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Trevor said: “He wasn’t getting in my gaff – if he had it could have got messy. Others could have died. I could have been his next victim.”

Trevor Proverb has been called a hero (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Trevor said he pushed the intruder away and punched the window

Residents also praised a security guard at Seely Hirst House for his “calm” actions. He kept his distance and monitored the intruder, who is thought to have buzzed to try to get in. He asked the guard: “Is this a hospital?”

But he was told “no, it’s a hostel” – before the man walked away. Soon after, caretaker Ian Coates was stabbed to death in a nearby street.

The moment was caught on CCTV

The suspect fled in a stolen white van before ploughing into three people at a bus stop. Trevor said it was lucky he was awake at the hostel. He moved in three months ago after returning from Europe, where he was working.

Trevor, who had opened a window to help his asthma, said: “If I’d been asleep, more people could have died. I was surfing the net when I spotted something. I saw his face as he grabbed the window frame. I thought it was a burglar.

Grace O'Malley-Kumar was studying medicine (Facebook)

“I told him to eff off. But he never said a word.

“He was staring blank. I punched him in the face with a right hook, which forced him down. He came back and hit the window with something wrapped in a carrier bag but the glass wouldn’t crack so he left.”

Barnaby Webber was a student at the University of Nottingham (PA)

Ian Coates was a caretaker for Huntingdon Academy primary school (Miro Photography)

Trevor was unhurt but said he “feels” for the victims. Resident Jordan, 25, praised Trevor and the security guard, saying: “We all heard the banging. I feel lucky.”

Resident Jason Derbyshire, 50, said: “I woke to someone hammering on the window next door. The man was dressed all in black and calm as hell. He just stood in the arch. He had his back to us just staring at the hedge opposite.”

Forensic police officers on Ilkeston Road (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)

Earlier, Barney Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar were knifed to death on Ilkeston Road.

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Police stopped the murder suspect at 5.30am. CCTV shows an officer aiming his Taser at him before he is pulled from the van.

The suspect had still not been named last night, though locals said they recognised him.

He was described as “very quiet”. Nottinghamshire Police said: “A man matching the suspect’s description attempted to gain entry to a supported living complex in Mapperley Road.”

Matthew Young