Did lockdown turn Nottingham stabber into a psychotic killer? Valdo Calocane's mental health spiralled at start of Covid pandemic, family friends say - as it emerges police failed to catch him for NIN

Nottingham knifeman Valdo Calocane 'mercilessly' carried out three brutal killings which shocked the nation. Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane, pictured while sharing a student flat in the city, is said to have rapidly deteriorated in his mental state since the start of the pandemic Calocane, 32, has admitted three charges of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Nottingham Crown Court One of his victims was 19-year-old first year student Grace O'Malley-Kumar, who was stabbed to death while walking home in the early hours of June 13 last year Prosecutors told how Grace showed 'incredible bravery' to try to protect her friend Barnaby Webber, 19, but the pair were both stabbed to death Calocane went on to kill school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, later that same morning Cavalry Church minister Reverend Adrian Vaughan, who is supporting Calocane's parents Amissao, 55, and 43-year-old Celeste in their home town of Haverfordwest, said the pandemic had impacted the killer 'in a very bad way'. Valdo Calocane in a court sketch dated November 2023 Victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar, left, pictured with father Dr Sanjoy Kumar, who has criticised 'gaps' in Valdo Calocane's treatment, alongside Grace's mother Sinead and brother James The family of Barnaby Webber, second left, with his father David Webber, left, mother Emma and brother Charlie How Nottingham knifeman had settled status in Britain through his Portuguese citizenship Dual Guinea-Bissau/Portuguese national Valdo Calocane had settled status in the UK through his Portuguese citizenship. An earlier court artist sketch of Valdo Calocane at Nottingham Magistrates' Court last June Flowers were laid at the Ilkeston Road scene in Nottingham where Grace and Barnaby were killed, including by Barnaby's father David Webber Grace O'Malley Kumar was praised in court for her 'incredible bravery' trying to protect her friend Barnaby Webber from Valdo Calocane's dagger blows An online CV suggests he found work at a branch of fashion retailer Next during his studies. Dr Sanjoy Kumar, the father of victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar, along with Grace's mother Sinead were seen arriving at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday alongside her brother James The parents of Barnaby Webber, David and Emma Webber, arriving at Nottingham Crown Court It was revealed in court that Calocane's brother Elias sought assurances from his sibling that he would not do anything stupid as his mental health deteriorated.