Nottingham triple killer data breaches branded an ‘utter disgrace’ by victim Barnaby Webber’s mother – amid claims agency staff ‘accessed sensitive images from case files’

Alleged data breaches by government agency staff into triple killer Valdo Calocane’s case have been branded ‘an utter disgrace’ by the mother of one of the attacker’s victims.

University students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, were stabbed to death by Calocane in Nottingham on June 13, 2023.

The 32-year-old paranoid schizophrenic had been in and out of a mental health hospital for more than three years and a warrant was out for his arrest ahead of his killing spree.

Emma Webber, Barnaby’s mother, shared a letter from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) notifying the family of its investigation into alleged data breaches relating to Calocane’s case.

Police said the alleged suspects are staff members working for HM Prison and Probation Service and HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and believe they accessed sensitive case file material and images without authorisation and no proper reason.

It was also explained that while Nottinghamshire Police received the report of the alleged breaches, the force requested an unconnected policing unit to carry out the investigation.

Mrs Webber said: ‘So many individuals and organisations failed Barney, Grace and Ian. It’s an utter disgrace.

‘Leicester and Nottingham police forces, the NHS, the CPS and now the wider courts and prison and probation service. When will it ever stop?

The victims families said pointless ‘apologies and lessons to be learnt’ will fall on deaf ears. Pictured from left to right: James Coates, son of Ian Coates, Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber and Dr Sanjoy Kumar, father of Grace O’Malley-Kumar

Calocane pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and another three of attempted murder 

‘I’d ask every single individual involved in any of these failings to pause and reflect upon what a difference their actions could have and likely would have made in preventing the murder of our loved ones at the hands of that monster had they just done their jobs properly. Shame on them.’

A statement on a behalf of the families of all of Calocane’s victims levelled similar criticism.

They said: ‘Once more we have been advised of probable failings and misconduct of individuals from the very agencies that should be there to protect us.

‘The pain we continue to suffer from the utterly preventable and tragic loss of our loved ones has been made so much harder to bear by these continuing revelations. We dread to think what else is still to be uncovered.

‘We need the truth and full candour from organisations and individuals about all of the grievous errors, failings and misconduct that has happened.

‘Generic and pointless ‘apologies and lessons to be learnt’ will fall on deaf ears. 

‘Without accountability, and serious action, things will never change.’

They added that they are waiting for confirmation from the Government that the promised public inquiry will be a statutory, judge-led one.

Barnaby, from Taunton, was stabbed in Ilkeston Road in Nottingham at around 4am on June 13

Grace, who like Barnaby was 19, was a talented sportswoman who had played hockey for England 

Mr Coates was a grandfather and a much-loved caretaker at a local school 

A spokesperson for the police investigation team leading the probe told the Mirror: ‘The South East Regional Organised Crime Unit is currently investigating allegations under the Computer Misuse Act in relation to members of staff from HMCTS and HMPPS. 

‘This is in relation to individuals accessing case files for the investigation into the deaths of Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, who were killed in an attack in Nottingham in June 2023.

‘No arrests have been made at this time. The investigation is being led by SEROCU detectives, who are completely independent from any previous investigations in relation to the original incident, to ensure the families of the deceased and injured can have full trust and confidence in the process.’ 

Calocane, who also injured three others in the stabbing spree last summer, was sentenced to a hospital order in January after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. 

A litany of missed chances left Calocane free to roam a city  as the NHS, police, university officials and even his employer missed at least eight opportunities to deal with the 32-year-old.

Flatmates described Calocane as a ‘ticking timebomb’ and gave him the nickname ‘serial killer’ because of the loner’s unstable nature. 

After the court accepted Calocane’s guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, it emerged his disturbing behaviour had repeatedly brought him to the attention of the authorities, with him being sectioned at least four times. 

Yet he was continually released into the community – where he stopped taking his medication and posed an increasing danger. Calocane had also been wanted by police for attacking an officer for almost a year by the time of the killings in June last year.

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One young woman was so terrified after being followed into her university accommodation that she jumped out of a window to escape. She is said to have suffered severe injuries requiring surgery as a result, while Calocane was eventually sectioned.

The woman’s mother was said to be so concerned she is believed to have contacted the university about Calocane, but he was allowed to continue his mechanical engineering studies.

Another incident saw Calocane assault and then trap a flatmate in their kitchen in a row over a dirty shower.

It was claimed the university had urged police not to charge Calacone over the matter, and he was moved out of the accommodation. The university declined to comment on the ongoing case.

It is also understood he attacked two colleagues at the warehouse where he worked, and was banned from the premises.

At a previous court hearing, Calocane’s own defence barrister, Peter Joyce KC, said his client had been taken to mental health facilities by police several times due to his ‘extremely odd… bizarre, dangerous behaviour’, adding: ‘He ought to have been under the eye of mental health services.’

Calocane was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia three years before last summer’s rampage, which also saw him mow down three pedestrians with the van he stole from Mr Coates. 

In between his diagnosis and the attack, the killer even visited MI5’s London headquarters and demanded they stop ‘controlling him’.