The university graduate accused of murdering three people in the Nottingham rampage is from a churchgoing family and grew up in a leafy town in Wales.
Valdo Calocane, who is understood to be from Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering last summer, according to a pamphlet about the ceremony published online.
He grew up in the quiet market town of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire where he was known for being very bright and studious before attending the university.
While he was studying, the Guinean lived a stone’s throw from the stretch of Ilkeston Road where the 19-year-old victims died in the early hours of Tuesday.
Calocane was arrested at 5.40am on Tuesday on suspicion of murdering Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both University of Nottingham students in their first year.
Police have said the man they have in custody is the same person seen walking into a supported living complex in Mapperley Road
CCTV footage shows officers Tasering the suspect and handcuffing him after three people were fatally stabbed in Nottingham
The knife attack marked the start of a 90-minute spree which also saw school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, knifed to death and three pedestrians run over, one of whom remains critically ill and was identified as factory worker Wayne Birkett today.
Nottinghamshire Police – which was yesterday granted a further 36 hours to question the suspect – do not believe the fact he graduated from the same university they attended is relevant to the attacks.
A former housemate said Calocane, who also links to other student accommodation blocks near the Ilkeston Road in the Lenton suburb, had confided in her about his deteriorating mental health, adding that he ‘saw and heard things that weren’t there.’
She said: ‘He seemed like a normal guy, I didn’t know him too well but he didn’t so drugs or drink much.
‘He came from Guinea originally but had been in the UK for some time.
‘What he did tell me was that he struggled with his mental health. He said he heard and saw things that weren’t there.
‘I lived with him for a year in 2020. He was studying for a masters in mechanical engineering.
‘We lost contact but I think he graduated last year and was still living in Nottingham.’
Valdo went to Sir Thomas Picton High School which recently became Haverfordwest High School.
His family worship at the Calvary Church in Haverfordwest which is less than a quarter of a mile from their home.
azel Vaughan, wife of minister Adrian Vaughan, told the Mail they are an ‘amazing family, really lovely.’
She said: ‘I can’t believe this…it has come as a shock.’
Mrs Vaughan added: ‘We haven’t seen Valdo for some years. I didn’t know he had moved to Nottingham.’
The church had ‘coincidentally’ earlier yesterday posted a message of solidarity and support ‘for those affected by this tragic and evil act in Nottingham this week’.
The message on its Facebook page added: ‘Do keep them in prayer to know God’s comfort now and the only true hope of eternal life Jesus Christ.’
Sources in Nottingham suggested earlier this week that the suspect may have recently converted to Islam.
The family’s 1960s mid-terrace house stands on a former estate occupied by military families based at RAF Brawdy 10 miles away. There was no reply from the home on Thursday night.
Haverfordwest neighbour of the family, Marlene Raymond, 55, said: ‘I can picture the eldest boy now in his school uniform, he was very smart and handsome.
‘He was very bright, all three children are – they are a nice family and have been lovely neighbours for over 15 years.
Footage released on Wednesday showed the man attempting to enter the property through a downstairs window
Forensic police continue to investigate around a van parked on Bentinck road on June 13
‘I haven’t seen the oldest boy for some time – since he went away to college or uni.
‘The family have lived there for around 15 years – when the mum came here she didn’t speak much English.
‘But she is very fluent now – she’s a nice lady and a good mum. The children are well brought up and educated.
‘They are very clever, all of them are polite and intelligent children, I think the middle son went to Oxford. The two oldest boys have been out of the picture for a while.’
Mrs Raymond added: ‘All the family are good looking. There were age gaps between the three children.’
Another neighbour said: ‘They are a quiet family but I only know them to say hello to. There has never been any trouble with them since I’ve lived here.
‘They both go out to work, she is a nurse in the local hospital. They’re a nice family.’
A neighbour of one of the houses raided on Tuesday recognised Calocane from CCTV, the Mirror reported.
Kamran Kahn, 41, told the paper he spent time with an ex-partner at the house. He said: ‘He would sit out the back with his top off, smoking and drinking.’
Today, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed the man being held was a former University of Nottingham student but said: ‘At this time, it is not believed to be connected with the attack.’
The force has said the man they have in custody is the same person seen walking into a supported living complex in Mapperley Road.
CCTV showed black-clad man arrived at the property Seely Hirst House at 5am on Tuesday – around half an hour before his arrest.
He can be seen trying to climb into an open ground-floor window, before resident Trevor Proverbs, 59, punches him in the face to get him off the window ledge.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar, 19, was one of two University of Nottingham students who was stabbed to death while walking home after a night out at 4am yesterday
Barnaby Webber, a university student, was killed in the attacks early on Tuesday morning
Caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was stabbed to death before the suspect stole his van and ploughed into three people at a bus stop, injuring one critically
Mr Proverbs said he was watching the TV because he couldn’t sleep when he spotted the man.
He told MailOnline: ‘There was a guy all in black looking through the window. I thought he was a burglar at first so I shouted at him to ”f*** off”.
‘But he actually jumped up on the ledge and opened the top window as though he was going to try and come in.
‘I got off my chair and just punched him in the face with a right-hook, which forced him down off the ledge. He looked up and walked around a bit but left.
‘The security knocked on my door to check to see if I knew the man. I’ve never seen him before in my life.’
It comes amid reports Calocane turned up at MI5’s headquarters in London in August.
Trevor Proverbs told how he punched the suspect when he tired to get into his supported housing block
The suspect, 31, was finally stopped by officers armed with Tasers at around 5.30am. A knife was recovered
He was allegedly ‘moved on’ by security personnel after his name was logged, following his demand to be let in the building.
A security source told The Sun: ‘He turned up one day and literally started banging on the door. He was moved on and logged.
‘This happens from time to time.’
The suspect had reportedly been living in the UK legally for ten years and had a history of mental health issues.
The Home Office declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by MailOnline.
Van attack victim Wayne Birkett, 58, got off from a bus early in order to walk to work, workmates said, when he was struck by a white Vauxhall van near the bus stop.
He remains critically ill in hospital with severe head injuries, the Mirror reported.
