Former Flatmate Moves Out Over Fear of Valdo Calocane
A former flatmate of Valdo Calocane has testified at a public inquiry that he left their shared accommodation out of fear after Calocane grabbed him and held him against a wall.
Calocane was responsible for the deaths of Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber, and Grace O'Malley Kumar, and seriously injured three others during a series of attacks across Nottingham on 13 June 2023.
The Nottingham attacks are currently under investigation in a public inquiry. On Tuesday, the inquiry heard testimony from Calocane's former flatmate, identified only as Sebastian. He stated that Calocane attempted to enter his room while he was asleep and followed him home on two occasions prior to the killings.
The inquiry also revealed that Calocane had visited MI5 headquarters in London, requesting to be arrested.
The Nottingham Inquiry continues to gather evidence from over 100 witnesses concerning the events leading to the 2023 attacks.
Witnesses have included Nottinghamshire Police officers, representatives from the University of Nottingham, and former neighbours. The hearings commenced at Mary Ward House in London on 23 February.
Calocane had a documented history of mental health issues and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in July 2020.
Calocane's Visit to MI5 Headquarters
On Tuesday, the inquiry examined details regarding Calocane's visit to Thames House, the MI5 headquarters in Westminster, on 31 May 2021.
Calocane claimed to possess information and requested to be arrested.
PC Graham Foster, an armed officer with the Metropolitan Police, attended the scene alongside another officer.
Body-worn camera footage played during the inquiry showed Calocane telling Foster he wished to speak to someone but declined to provide further information to the officers.
When it was clarified that he would not be able to speak to anyone, Calocane ordered an Uber to return home.
"I was content with the response that he gave. He was calm, compliant and coherent, so I was happy with the response he gave me,"
Foster explained when asked why he did not question Calocane further about his desire to be arrested.
Foster also testified that Calocane did not exhibit any "unusual" behavior.
An assessment of Calocane, initiated following his MI5 visit, was subsequently forwarded to Nottinghamshire Police, the inquiry heard.
Testimony from Sebastian: Living with Calocane
Sebastian provided evidence explaining that he lived with Calocane between 2019 and 2020, and again in 2021 when Calocane returned to the accommodation on Salisbury Street in Lenton, near the University of Nottingham campus.
On 5 July 2021, Sebastian recounted returning home when Calocane, referred to in the inquiry as "VC," emerged from his room and suddenly grabbed him.
"When I entered the flat, VC came out of his room which was opposite the flat front door, and he was walking with me, and he took the box [I was carrying] from me as if he was helping me put it down,"
"Then he grabbed hold of my shirt and my arm and pushed me against the wall and said some confusing words.
"Then he basically said someone would contact me and that if they contacted me, I should tell them that VC would find them."
After Sebastian acknowledged what he said, Calocane said "good man," and went back to his room, the inquiry heard.
A week later, on 14 July, Sebastian stated that Calocane attempted to enter his locked room while he was asleep.
This incident prompted Sebastian to move out.
"I know he is aggressive and that he could harm me again out of nowhere,"
"I just wanted to make sure it did not happen again."
However, Sebastian noted that prior to these interactions, Calocane was "fairly quiet" and any mental health issues were "not obvious" to him.
Following these events, Sebastian said he received multiple phone calls from Calocane which he ignored and eventually blocked.
In 2022, Sebastian encountered Calocane at the gym.
He told the inquiry he had never seen Calocane at the gym at such an early hour before — between 06:00 and 07:00.
"I sat down to do the exercise and then realised who I sat down next to,"
Sebastian said Calocane "couldn't have known" which gym he was attending after Sebastian had changed his regular gym following their shared accommodation.
The two engaged in conversation during which Calocane was "friendly." Sebastian described it as:
"Just normal chit-chat really. He did mention that he tried to call me at one point."
Calocane then urged Sebastian to accept a Facebook friend request, which he did.
"I just wanted to get the conversation over with, which I thought I would do by accepting the friend request, and then the plan was to block him again straight after, which I possibly did,"
Sebastian told the inquiry he was later followed home by Calocane on two occasions.
After reporting the second incident to police, Sebastian said he received a call from an officer several days later.
"I don't remember the full conversation but, essentially, because it is now a repeat occasion, that I was followed home, it should be classified as stalking and she fairly firmly said it was time to talk to VC,"
he added.
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