The System Is So Broken,” Killer’s Mum Tells Inquiry

The system is so broken killer – Celeste Calocane, the mother of Valdo Calocane, the man responsible for the fatal Nottingham attacks, has shared her frustrations with the public inquiry investigating the incident. Describing the care system as “so broken,” she emphasized the challenges she faced in understanding the support her son received while he was under mental health care. Valdo’s actions on 13 June 2023 resulted in the deaths of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates, with three others injured in a series of violent attacks. The inquiry, held in Nottingham, aims to uncover the failures in the system that led to the tragedy.

A Life Shaped by Movement and Mental Health Struggles

Valdo Calocane, born in Guinea-Bissau in 1991, spent his early years in Madeira and Lisbon, Portugal, before his family relocated to the UK when he was 16. His journey to Nottingham, where he studied and lived, marked the beginning of his struggle with mental health. The inquiry revealed that Valdo experienced his first episode of psychosis in 2020, which prompted his initial hospital admission at Highbury Hospital. However, Celeste Calocane noted that at the time of his first admission, no formal diagnosis was given, as it was his first episode.

Throughout 2020 and 2021, Valdo was sectioned four times under the Mental Health Act, a process that left his mother feeling increasingly isolated. Celeste described how she had to take on the role of advocate, navigating a complex system without clear guidance. “I just had to navigate the system myself and try to make sense of what is going on,” she recalled during the inquiry. Her concerns about Valdo’s risk to others were raised as early as 2020, yet she said no one explained the severity of the situation to her or provided actionable steps to address it.

Broken Communication and Uncertainty

Celeste recounted how she felt powerless to influence Valdo’s treatment, even after his first hospitalization. She mentioned speaking to mental health services “100 times” but said her efforts were met with vague responses. “No-one spoke to me about Valdo’s risk to himself or others,” she said. “I was just living in anxiety, not knowing what could happen next.” This lack of communication left her unaware of key decisions about her son’s care until she requested his full medical records in 2024, following his sentencing for manslaughter on diminished responsibility and attempted murder.

During the inquiry, Celeste highlighted that Valdo’s fourth hospital admission in 2022 was a surprise to her. She explained that her awareness of his condition had been limited, with Valdo withdrawing consent for his care details to be shared with his mother in December 2021. At that point, her contact with him became sporadic, and when they did speak, Valdo assured her he was taking medication and “fine.” The last time Celeste saw her son before the attacks was in November 2022, when he joined her for a surprise visit to a concert in Birmingham. Despite his appearance being “presentable, washed and clean,” she felt something was amiss.

Systemic Failures in Crisis Management

Valdo’s care was marked by repeated hospitalizations and a lack of consistent support. After his discharge on 13 June 2020, Celeste expressed concern about his mental state, but the crisis team only responded with a phone call. Two days later, she was informed Valdo had attempted to break into a neighbor’s flat again, a sign that his condition was deteriorating. “No-one explained the risks to me or what I needed to look out for,” she said, echoing the sentiment that the system was failing to communicate effectively with families.

One of Valdo’s victims, Darren Coates, the son of Ian Coates, reportedly stormed out of the hearing room during the inquiry. Celeste said this moment underscored the emotional toll of the events. “The system is so broken,” she reiterated. “No-one should have to go to bed thinking I’m going to have a phone call tomorrow that something happened to my loved one.” She argued that by the time Valdo’s condition reached a crisis, the necessary interventions were too late. “When it gets to crisis, it’s too late,” she said, a sentiment that resonated with many in the room.

A Call for Systemic Reform

Addressing the inquiry chair, retired senior judge Deborah Taylor KC, Celeste emphasized the need for improvements in mental health care. “No brother or mother should be left alone in that situation to try to navigate the service,” she said. She called for clearer communication, stating that families should be given the information they need to understand their loved ones’ risks. “I think somebody should sit and explain to you, ‘this is the diagnosis, this is what you need to know, this is what you have to look at’,” she added. Her testimony highlighted the critical gap between medical professionals and the families they serve.

Celeste’s account also shed light on the emotional strain of her son’s care. She described feeling like a “kind of ghost” in the process, with ties to his treatment cutting off entirely. “The ties cut completely,” she said, reflecting on how her role as a caregiver was diminished. Her experience, she said, was not unique—many families face similar challenges when trying to support loved ones with mental health issues. “I didn’t know much of what was going on,” she admitted, underscoring the need for better support systems and more transparency in mental health care decisions.

Valdo’s case has sparked a broader conversation about the adequacy of mental health services in the UK. His four sections between May 2020 and January 2022 reveal a pattern of recurring crises, yet the system did not provide consistent follow-up. Celeste’s testimony, combined with the inquiry’s findings, suggests that families are often left in the dark about their loved ones’ treatment, even when the risks are clear. “The system is so broken,” she repeated, a phrase that encapsulates the frustration and helplessness she and others have felt. The inquiry’s goal is to ensure that such failures are not repeated, offering hope that changes will be made to prevent future tragedies.

“Someone should sit and explain to you, ‘this is the diagnosis, this is what you need to know, this is what you have to look at.’”

Celeste’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the human impact behind systemic failures. Her determination to advocate for change, even after the loss of her son, highlights the resilience of families navigating complex mental health challenges. “I want to help Taylor bring about changes so no-one has to go through what happened,” she said, addressing the inquiry’s chair. Her words, paired with the evidence presented, paint a picture of a system that needs to be more responsive, transparent, and family-friendly. The Nottingham Inquiry continues to explore these issues, with the hope that Valdo’s case will lead to meaningful reforms in mental health care across the UK.