Newark man Wayne Birkett tells court of his life-changing injuries after being victim of Nottingham attacks as Valdo Calocane appears at Nottingham Crown Court

A Newark man suffered life-changing injuries after being run over by a triple-killer in Nottingham, a court was told today.

Triple-killer Valdo Calocane, who answered to the name Adam Mendes in court, appeared for sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court.

He admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility of university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65.

He also admitted attempting to murder three pedestrians who were hit by a van he had stolen from Mr Coates on June 13 last year, including Wayne Birkett, of Newark, who had just got off a bus on his way to work.

Mr Birkett was crossing Milton Street, Nottingham when the defendant, after stabbing Mr Coates to death and stealing his work van, deliberately changed the direction of the vehicle, driving into the oncoming lane and hitting him from behind at a speed.

The defendant drove away, turning on to Upper Parliament Street, leaving the injured Mr Birkett on the pavement.

The Newark victim received multiple serious injuries, including two fractures to the skull, two to the pelvis and a fractured rib.

Calocane’s barrister Peter Joyce KC told a previous hearing the defendant “does not dispute the physical facts of the prosecution’s case” but was suffering from “extreme” mental illness at the time of the incident.

Calocane fatally knifed Miss O’Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber, who were studying medicine and history at the University of Nottingham respectively, on Ilkeston Road at around 4am on June 13.

Mr Coates was then found dead in Magdala Road around an hour later, having also been stabbed “repeatedly”.

The defendant then used Mr Coates’ van to drive at three pedestrians, Mr Birkett, Marcin Gawronski and Sharon Miller, in Milton Street and South Sherwood Street.

They all survived the attack.

In a statement to the court, Wayne Birkett said to had lost his independence, his memory and his ability to live a normal life.

He said to have been a hard-working and social person in the past, however, he became fully reliant on his partner since the murder attempt.

After today’s hearing, his solicitors, Rothera Bray Solicitors, said in a statement: “Wayne Birkett was hit by a van which drove into him intentionally in Nottingham city centre in the early hours of 13 June 2023.

“As a result of the attack, Wayne was seriously hurt with life-changing injuries, both physically and mentally, and spent weeks recovering in hospital. With multiple broken bones and a serious head injury, Wayne’s life will never be the same.

“He is at the sentencing in Nottingham to support the families of Grace, Barnaby and Ian who tragically lost their lives in the attacks that day. His wishes are that the media interest in the case be focused on helping to bring their families justice.

“For Wayne, the shocking and harrowing nature of the attacks and the impact they have had on his life and the lives of many is unbearable. He and his family will be affected for the rest of their lives.”

The prosecution’s decision to accept the pleas entered by Calocane in November means he will not face trial for murder.

Calocane’s sentencing will continue tomorrow morning (January 24) at Nottingham Crown Court.