Nottingham attacks suspect ‘tried climbing into care home moments before stabbing’
The man believed to be the attacker who stabbed to death two students tried to climb into a care home moments before a school caretaker was found dead in the street, it has been revealed.
CCTV footage obtained by Sky News shows a man wearing a black hoody as he looked for a way into Seely Hirst House residential home, which houses vulnerable and homeless people.
Witnesses told Sky News that the man arrived at the property in Mapperley Road just after 4am.
He was seen trying to climb in an open window but a resident woke up and punched him, sending him to the ground, it has been claimed.
The suspect then looked for another way in but left with a black backpack and headed towards Magdala Road, where school caretaker Ian Coates was found lying dead.
Talented students Grace Kumar, and Barnaby Webber, both 19, had been stabbed to death in the street in Ilkeston Road just after 4am.
Tributes have today been paid to the third victim of the attacks, as Ian Coates was killed close to the care home in Magdala Road, before the suspect stole his van, police said.
Police launched a ‘major incident’, with several roads across the town centre locked down, as the horror unfolded.
Barnaby’s heartbroken family – parents David and Emma Webber, and younger brother Charlie – have described their ‘complete devastation’ at the ‘senseless murder of our son’, saying he was a ‘beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to’.
They added in a statement: ‘At 19 he was just at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man.
‘As parents we are enormously proud of everything he achieved and all the plans he had made.
‘His brother is bereft beyond belief, and at this time we ask for privacy as a family to be allowed time to process and grieve.’
A residential care home resident, who did not want to be identified, said: ‘He tried to get into my window. Thank god I woke up as I might have been dead.’
Alex Pridmore, a trustee of the All Saints Shelter charity, which runs the home, said the footage showed someone trying to gain access through a ground-floor window at about 4am on Tuesday.
Mr Pridmore said: ‘None of our residents were hurt.
‘A resident had woken up and shut the window and was able to prevent the man coming in.
‘The CCTV has been provided to the police. The resident alerted security, we have 24/7 security on the door.’
Taunton School said the death of Barnaby – a pupil from nursery right through to sixth form – is ‘utterly devastating’.
A statement on its website said: ‘He was a much-loved, kind and engaging character. That a young man of such promise should lose his life in these circumstances is utterly devastating.
‘We send our love and deepest condolences to his family. We continue to do all we can to support them and all in our community affected by these events.
‘When the time comes, we will find a fitting way in which to remember Barnaby and his special contribution to our school.’
In a short statement, Taunton-based Bishops Hull Cricket Club paid tribute to the teen, who was one of its members, describing him as a ‘dear friend’.
Barnaby was described as a ‘key part’ of the club – ‘playing more than 30 games for the club, scoring 622 runs, and taking 29 wickets’ – and the statement invited family and friends to lay flowers and pay their respects at the ground.
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