An individual with a history of mental health issues under the care of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was involved in a fatal incident in August 2022, according to testimony in an inquiry. The inquiry revealed that the person had previous interactions with the trust’s mental health services. The former chairman of the trust acknowledged a missed opportunity to intervene before the violent actions of Valdo Calocane, who fatally attacked three individuals in June 2023 after being discharged from the trust in 2022.
Calocane, armed with a rucksack of weapons, fatally stabbed two students and a caretaker before attempting to harm pedestrians using a stolen van. The inquiry highlighted that another former patient carried out a separate fatal attack in August 2022, which was not detailed in the evidence presented. The inquiry’s counsel emphasized that insufficient action was taken by the trust’s board in response to the August 2022 incident, a sentiment echoed by the former chairman.
The board was informed of the August 2022 incident in September of that year, but an investigation could not proceed until after the police had completed their inquiry. An action plan related to the incident was only approved in May 2025. When questioned about the trust’s actions during the police investigation, the former chairman mentioned operational assessments but noted that the formal investigative process was delayed due to the ongoing police inquiry.
The inquiry suggested that an audit of discharges in September 2022 might have flagged Calocane’s case, potentially preventing the subsequent attacks in June 2023. The inquiry also revealed that the board was informed of another fatal incident involving a mental health patient in February 2023 and a non-fatal attack in April of the same year.
Calocane, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted murder charges, remains detained in a high-security facility after prosecutors did not pursue murder charges. The inquiry is ongoing.