Psychiatrist 'unable to section Nottingham killer'

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Psychiatrist 'unable to section Nottingham killer'1 hour ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleIsaac AsheEast MidlandsThe Nottingham InquiryDr Mike Skelton has been giving evidence to the Nottingham InquiryA psychiatrist who decided he could not detain Valdo Calocane under the Mental Health Act after he assaulted a flatmate said the Nottingham attacks killer "wished to take control" during his assessment. Calocane, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020, fatally stabbed Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates, and tried to kill three others on 13 June 2023. In January 2022, police were called when Calocane put a flatmate into a headlock and took him hostage in their flat in Faraday Road, Nottingham.

The following day, Dr Mike Skelton, a consultant psychiatrist, decided Calocane did not pose a serious enough risk to be detained and allowed him to return home. Skelton, based in the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust crisis team, had been familiar with Calocane having attended meetings discussing his case when he was released from two periods under section under the Mental Health Act at Highbury Hospital in August 2020, and when carrying out a seclusion review in September 2021 following an assault on a police officer. At this review, Skelton was standing at Calocane's door and asked questions without making eye contact, due to fears of safety to himself and other staff from what he called a "clearly very psychotic" patient, the inquiry was told.

The Details

Calocane was described at this review as "guarded, curt, fixed staring and having a hostile edge to him". However when Skelton assessed him again following the flatmate confrontation in January 2022, the psychiatrist said Calocane had been "polite and calm" and "invited us in to the property", although a police warrant was used to remove him and carry out the assessment, with 15 officers deployed. Officers wanted to leave after Calocane was taken to the Cassidy Ward at Highbury Hospital for the assessment, but medical staff were concerned about safety and asked officers to stay.

Nottinghamshire PoliceSkelton said the team did not have the legal power to detain Calocane In his assessment, Skelton was aware Calocane had not been on his medication despite his claims he had been taking it as prescribed. Skelton said: "It's clear that he does make statements and then when he's challenged or we have evidence, that sort of melts away. "The psychiatrist said failing to take medicine was not unusual among patients with schizophrenia and was not a reason for detention - the "net effect of that on the person" is.

Calocane took one tablet in front of Skelton during his assessment, the inquiry heard. "One tablet doesn't reduce the risk," said Skelton. "The first step was to see was he going to even do that, because if he didn't, he would have been detained immediately.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.