Latest news with #BarnabyWebber
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Nottingham needs powerful voice in attacks inquiry'
Survivors of the Nottingham attacks have written to city MPs to create a "powerful voice on the national stage" amid the public inquiry, their solicitor has Calocane stabbed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, to death before striking three pedestrians with a van, seriously injuring them, on 13 June scope of the public inquiry, which will make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future, was published by the government last week, marking its official Almond, from Rothera Bray Solicitors, is representing two of the three survivors and said the city needed a "co-ordinated approach" to the probe. Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller, along with Marcin Gawronski, survived being struck by a van which Calocane stole from Mr Coates but were left with life-changing who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia before the attacks, was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024 after admitting three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted case has prompted a number of reviews, including a mental health homicide review commissioned by NHS this year the families of Mr Webber, Ms O'Malley-Kumar and Mr Coates, alongside Ms Miller and Mr Birkett, were invited to Downing Street to discuss the details on the by retired judge Her Honour Deborah Taylor, it will examine the management of Calocane's risk to others, the events on the day of the attacks and timeline of incidents of unauthorised accessing of information of public its terms of reference, Mr Almond said: "They hopefully will ensure that we get the answers that we need, both for my clients and for the people of Nottingham." Mr Birkett and Ms Miller have written to Nottingham MPs and East Midlands mayor Claire Ward to ask for a meeting to create a "joined-up approach" and ensure recommendations from the inquiry are implemented."I think that's what Nottingham needs, so that there is a joined up approach from the various elected leaders," said Mr Almond said the public inquiry was "very important" to Mr Birkett and Ms Miller so they "can move forward with their lives".He added: "They want to draw a line under this terrible incident that's affected them completely unexpectedly, they were just on the way to work."They want to try and hopefully get back to work if they can, and try and live a normal life."
Leader Live
24-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Attacks by NHS trust's patients ‘do not surprise us', say Nottingham families
Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, said the failings of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 'continue to concern but sadly not surprise us' following the news that two men with paranoid schizophrenia, treated by the trust, stabbed members of the public in separate incidents weeks before the attacks. Josef Easom-Cooper and Junior Dietlin attacked six men in the county in 2023. Emma Webber, the mother of Barnaby Webber, said further failings by the trust 'continue to concern but sadly not a surprise us' (Jonathan Brady/PA) Dr Susan Elcock, deputy chief executive and executive medical director at the trust, apologised 'for any aspect of our care which was not of the high standard our patients, their families and our communities deserve'. Another of the trust's patients, Valdo Calocane, went on to kill students Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city in June 2023. A report into Calocane's care said he was not forced to have long-lasting anti-psychotic medication because he did not like needles. On behalf of the Nottingham families, Ms Webber told the PA news agency: 'Unless we expose those who are failing individually then nothing will ever change.' She said: 'The findings in the latest revelation about the Nottinghamshire mental health trust and its failings continue to concern but sadly not surprise us. 'As has been proven, it was a woefully inadequate, failing service. 'The statutory inquiry will provide our family with the opportunity to do the deeper dive and find out much more detail than any of the half-baked investigations that have taken place so far. 'What we find personally insulting is this continued 'unreserved apology and lessons will be learned' – they are not. They never have been. 'Unless we expose those who are failing individually then nothing will ever change. Ian Coates, left to right, Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar (Nottinghamshire Police/PA) 'We completely stand united with anyone affected by any of these crimes, and in Barney, Grace and Ian's name, we will hold those to account who failed in any agency, and we will make sure that there is lasting change, not unreserved apologies and dusty reports on shelves.' In April 2023, Easom-Cooper stabbed a church-goer outside an Easter service and was sentenced to a hospital order in December of the same year. His mother, Shelly Easom, told the BBC he was sectioned in 2022 for three months and was discharged despite her telling the trust that he 'was not OK when he was released'. She told the broadcaster the attack could have been prevented if his condition had been taken more seriously. Dietlin stabbed five strangers in Nottingham and Mansfield nine weeks before the attack by Easom-Cooper and he also received a hospital order. Former police officer Keith Grafton, who was one of Dietlin's victims, told the BBC he was 'disappointed' his attacker had not received a prison sentence. The broadcaster said a report showed Dietlin had been involved with violent incidents with staff at Highbury Hospital in June 2022 and following his release, he took his medication 'very irregularly'. The BBC reported the day after his first attack on February 8 2023, he was visited by a staff member at the trust for a medication drop, but when community staff visited they found no signs of psychosis. Dietlin stabbed four more people between February 11 and 12. The trust said learning was identified in both cases – including capacity and risk assessment, liaison with police, medication drop-offs and follow-up and the role of families in working with patients who were harder to engage with. Dr Elcock said: 'Firstly, I apologise to those impacted by these incidents and for any aspect of our care which was not of the high standard our patients, their families and our communities deserve. 'Whilst we are unable to comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality, I want to assure people that following any serious incident there is a robust review process which includes an initial management review to ensure any immediate learning and action takes place. 'This is then followed by a full investigation and a clear quality improvement plan detailing any learning and subsequent actions required. 'We have also implemented the new national patient safety incident response framework (PSIRF) which further strengthens this review and learning process. 'We know that it is really important for patients and families to be fully involved and I am confident our approach now ensures this happens, and that issues are addressed swiftly and transparently with patients involved in every aspect of their care. 'Above all, we remain fully committed to ensuring all our patients and their families receive the care they deserve, and our communities feel safe.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nottingham killer's NHS trust criticised over further failings
Two patients who were treated at the same NHS trust as the Nottingham killer carried out stabbings weeks before his fatal attacks, it has emerged. Paranoid schizophrenics Josef Easom-Cooper and Junior Dietlin attacked six people weeks before Valdo Calocane's knife rampage in which he killed three people in June 2023. All were under the care of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. Calocane killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city. The 33-year-old was given an indefinite hospital order last year after the murder charges were downgraded to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The families of the victims have repeatedly raised concerns over the trust's alleged failure to treat 'known risk' Calocane appropriately. A report into Calocane's care found failings including him not being forced to have long-lasting anti-psychotic medication because he did not like needles. It has now emerged the trust was caring for patients who suffered with the same condition and carried out similar attacks prior to the deadly ones in Nottingham. In April 2023, Easom-Cooper stabbed a worshipper who was leaving an Easter Sunday service in Sneinton. He was sentenced to a hospital order in December 2023. His mother, Shelly Easom, told the BBC he was sectioned in 2022 for three months and was discharged despite her telling the trust that he 'was not OK when he was released'. Nine weeks earlier, Dietlin stabbed five 'complete strangers' before also being sentenced to a hospital order. The broadcaster said a report showed he had been involved with violent incidents with staff at Highbury Hospital in June 2022 and following his release, he took his medication 'very irregularly'. Reacting to the latest revelations of the mental health trust, Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, said the failings 'continue to concern but sadly not surprise us'. On behalf of the Nottingham families, she said: 'Unless we expose those who are failing individually then nothing will ever change. 'As has been proven, it was a woefully inadequate, failing service.' A public inquiry into the killings, Calocane's care up until that point and the aftermath was announced on Thursday. Ms Webber said this would provide the families an opportunity to find out more details than the 'half-baked investigations that have taken place so far'. 'What we find personally insulting is this continued 'unreserved apology and lessons will be learned' – they are not. They never have been,' she added. 'We completely stand united with anyone affected by any of these crimes, and in Barney, Grace and Ian's name, we will hold those to account who failed in any agency, and we will make sure that there is lasting change, not unreserved apologies and dusty reports on shelves.' Dr Susan Elcock, deputy chief executive and executive medical director at the trust, apologised 'for any aspect of our care which was not of the high standard our patients, their families and our communities deserve'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Glasgow Times
23-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Attacks by NHS trust's patients ‘do not surprise us', say Nottingham families
Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, said the failings of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 'continue to concern but sadly not surprise us' following the news that two men with paranoid schizophrenia, treated by the trust, stabbed members of the public in separate incidents weeks before the attacks. Josef Easom-Cooper and Junior Dietlin attacked six men in the county in 2023. Emma Webber, the mother of Barnaby Webber, said further failings by the trust 'continue to concern but sadly not a surprise us' (Jonathan Brady/PA) Dr Susan Elcock, deputy chief executive and executive medical director at the trust, apologised 'for any aspect of our care which was not of the high standard our patients, their families and our communities deserve'. Another of the trust's patients, Valdo Calocane, went on to kill students Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city in June 2023. A report into Calocane's care said he was not forced to have long-lasting anti-psychotic medication because he did not like needles. On behalf of the Nottingham families, Ms Webber told the PA news agency: 'Unless we expose those who are failing individually then nothing will ever change.' She said: 'The findings in the latest revelation about the Nottinghamshire mental health trust and its failings continue to concern but sadly not surprise us. 'As has been proven, it was a woefully inadequate, failing service. 'The statutory inquiry will provide our family with the opportunity to do the deeper dive and find out much more detail than any of the half-baked investigations that have taken place so far. 'What we find personally insulting is this continued 'unreserved apology and lessons will be learned' – they are not. They never have been. 'Unless we expose those who are failing individually then nothing will ever change. Ian Coates, left to right, Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar (Nottinghamshire Police/PA) 'We completely stand united with anyone affected by any of these crimes, and in Barney, Grace and Ian's name, we will hold those to account who failed in any agency, and we will make sure that there is lasting change, not unreserved apologies and dusty reports on shelves.' In April 2023, Easom-Cooper stabbed a church-goer outside an Easter service and was sentenced to a hospital order in December of the same year. His mother, Shelly Easom, told the BBC he was sectioned in 2022 for three months and was discharged despite her telling the trust that he 'was not OK when he was released'. She told the broadcaster the attack could have been prevented if his condition had been taken more seriously. Dietlin stabbed five strangers in Nottingham and Mansfield nine weeks before the attack by Easom-Cooper and he also received a hospital order. Former police officer Keith Grafton, who was one of Dietlin's victims, told the BBC he was 'disappointed' his attacker had not received a prison sentence. The broadcaster said a report showed Dietlin had been involved with violent incidents with staff at Highbury Hospital in June 2022 and following his release, he took his medication 'very irregularly'. The BBC reported the day after his first attack on February 8 2023, he was visited by a staff member at the trust for a medication drop, but when community staff visited they found no signs of psychosis. Dietlin stabbed four more people between February 11 and 12. The trust said learning was identified in both cases – including capacity and risk assessment, liaison with police, medication drop-offs and follow-up and the role of families in working with patients who were harder to engage with. Dr Elcock said: 'Firstly, I apologise to those impacted by these incidents and for any aspect of our care which was not of the high standard our patients, their families and our communities deserve. 'Whilst we are unable to comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality, I want to assure people that following any serious incident there is a robust review process which includes an initial management review to ensure any immediate learning and action takes place. 'This is then followed by a full investigation and a clear quality improvement plan detailing any learning and subsequent actions required. 'We have also implemented the new national patient safety incident response framework (PSIRF) which further strengthens this review and learning process. 'We know that it is really important for patients and families to be fully involved and I am confident our approach now ensures this happens, and that issues are addressed swiftly and transparently with patients involved in every aspect of their care. 'Above all, we remain fully committed to ensuring all our patients and their families receive the care they deserve, and our communities feel safe.'
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Telegraph
Nottingham inquiry to examine why police didn't carry out toxicology tests on killer
The Nottingham inquiry will examine why toxicology samples were not taken from the attacker in the immediate aftermath of the killings, the Government has said. Valdo Calocane killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city in June 2023. Calocane, 33, was originally charged with murder, but this was downgraded to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility because of his paranoid schizophrenia. He was given an indefinite hospital order last year, but the families of the victims have repeatedly raised concerns over the fact he was not tested for drugs in the aftermath of the attack. The Telegraph previously revealed that, the night before the killings, Calocane travelled to London and attended a barbecue with a violent, cannabis-using gangster. The next day he boarded a train back to Nottingham, dressed all in black and armed with a double-edged dagger, before launching his murderous assault in the early hours of June 13. After being arrested, Calocane refused to allow officers to take any blood or urine samples, and police did not take a sample of his hair for testing. Announcing the terms of reference for the public inquiry on Thursday, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that it would be looking at how Calocane was dealt with while in custody. It said it will review 'any assessment of medical and mental health issues and drug testing, and provision of appropriate medical support'. It will also look at the forensic strategy used by Nottinghamshire Police, such as the lack of toxicology and decisions made with regards to taking samples. During Calocane's sentencing hearing, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, Grace's father, questioned why no toxicology tests had been carried out in the immediate aftermath of the killings. Psychiatrists insisted there was no suggestion that substance misuse had played a role in Calocane's declining mental health. The inquiry aims to report back within two years with recommendations to prevent similar incidents. Witnesses from Nottinghamshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) could also be compelled to give evidence. The inquiry will look at the acceptance of Calocane's diminished responsibility plea, and whether enough information was obtained prior to making that decision. The Independent Office for Police Conduct previously concluded that officers failed to properly investigate an assault on warehouse workers by Calocane, which could have stopped his murders a month later. The Ministry of Justice said the management of Calocane's risk to others in the lead-up to the attacks and public servants' accessing of information without authorisation will also form part of the inquiry. The victims' families previously said claims that healthcare staff illegally accessed medical records belonging to their loved ones were 'sickening' and 'inexcusable'. Three Nottinghamshire Police officers faced disciplinary action for viewing material about the case without any legitimate reason. There have also been alleged data breaches by staff working for HM Prison and Probation Service and HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Emergency services staff who responded to the attacks will also be scrutinised by the inquiry as part of a 'detailed examination' of events on the day of the killings. Senior retired judge Deborah Taylor, who jailed Boris Becker, the former tennis star, after he avoided paying his debts, will chair the inquiry. Shabana Mahmood, the Lord Chancellor, said: 'The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific incidents were able to happen. 'I am pleased this inquiry is now under way, and I know her honour Deborah Taylor will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts to prevent tragedies like this happening again.' The announcement comes as the victims' families said they have made plans to return to Nottingham to mark the second anniversary of the attacks. Barnaby's mother, Emma Webber, said she had approached both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham city council, but had not yet received a response in how they could support marking the anniversary. She said: 'The people of Nottingham continue to shower us with their love, empathy and support, something that the leaders of the city fail to do. Given that it is less than two weeks until the 13th, we have decided that we will, as united families, travel to the two terrible locations where the vicious attacks were carried out. 'Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, we will ensure justice is served, and all of those who failed will be held fully to account.'
