Partner of Nottingham Attack Survivor Accuses Authorities of 'Torturing' Families in Emotional Inquiry Testimony
The partner of a man who suffered severe brain damage after being deliberately run over by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane has delivered a powerful statement to a public inquiry, claiming that authorities involved with the triple killer have "tortured" the victims' families "over and over again" through their handling of the case.
Survivor Details Horrific Attack and Aftermath
Wayne Birkett was thrown feet into the air when Calocane deliberately swerved and struck him with a stolen van during the early hours of June 13, 2023, in Nottingham. Mr Birkett's attacker had already murdered three people that morning – students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both aged 19, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates, whose van was subsequently used to run over three additional victims.
Giving evidence to the Nottingham Inquiry, which is examining events leading up to and following the attacks, Mr Birkett and his partner Tracey Hodgson expressed their profound distress, stating that survivors of the attacks feel completely "forgotten" by the system.
Emotional Testimony Reveals Systemic Failures
Ms Hodgson told the central London inquiry with evident frustration: "It should have not needed this inquiry for the police in particular to tell the truth and be honest as to what we are learning of so many failures. All the organisations involved in this inquiry should have been open from the beginning."
She continued with palpable emotion: "They have caused extra suffering for the families, which could have been prevented, and they have prolonged their suffering when they should have been allowed to just get on with grieving. You have tortured these families over and over again."
Police Withheld Critical Information from Victims
Mr Birkett revealed that he specifically wanted to understand the "severity" of what Calocane had done, but told the inquiry that their family liaison officer, Detective Constable Raj Johal, failed to disclose crucial information about the killer's previous interactions with police during an early meeting.
Ms Hodgson elaborated on this disturbing revelation: "She said there was no history at all with the police. She's been sitting on all this information that she already knew. It's so disappointing to know that she would have known all of this and she wasn't allowed to tell us, obviously."
Mr Birkett sustained a traumatic brain injury resulting from two skull fractures, numerous lacerations, severe bruising, and multiple fractures during the attack.
Previous Warning Signs and Missed Opportunities
The inquiry has previously heard alarming details about Calocane's history, including that he had assaulted and stalked a former flatmate, and attacked two members of staff at a warehouse just one month before the Nottingham attacks. A warrant had been issued for his arrest after he failed to attend court in September 2022 for assaulting a police officer on a separate occasion.
Traumatic Court Experience and Sentencing Concerns
Mr Birkett described the sentencing hearing for Calocane as particularly harrowing: "I thought it was horrifying listening to what happened because I wasn't expecting it at all. I had to literally walk past VC, probably within two metres of him, every time I had to leave the court. How do you do that, staring at the man who did all this?"
Ms Hodgson expressed strong dissatisfaction with the legal outcome, stating plainly that it was "not the right sentence." Calocane received an indefinite hospital order in January 2024 after admitting three counts of manslaughter and three counts of attempted murder.
Families Discover Information Through Social Media
In a revealing email to former Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell, Ms Hodgson highlighted how families learned that police officers had accessed sensitive information about the attacks without proper policing purpose, noting this was already circulating on social media.
Ms Hodgson wrote pointedly: "Literally word for word had already been on social media and this shouldn't be the way we find out." She added with evident pain: "Wayne, Sharon & Marcin (the three survivors of the attacks) all seem to be forgotten because they are survivors of this horrendous crime that was committed by Valdo Calocane."
The Nottingham Inquiry continues its examination of the events surrounding these tragic attacks, with families seeking answers and accountability from the authorities they believe failed them.
