MoJ staff accused of accessing files on Nottingham attack case

An investigation has been launched into allegations that Ministry of Justice (MoJ) staff illegally accessed computer files relating to the Nottingham attacks.

In June 2023, Waldo Caloocan stabbed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley Kumar to death along with school caretaker Ian Coates in the city.

Caloocan, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, received a hospital order in January after admitting murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Now the South East Regional Organized Crime Unit is investigating whether the case files were illegally accessed by government employees.

In a statement, the unit said it was “currently investigating allegations under the Computer Misuse Act in relation to staff at Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service”.

It said: “This is in relation to individuals accessing case files for the investigation into the deaths of Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, who were killed in an attack in Nottingham in June 2023.

“No arrests have been made at this time as part of this investigation.”

The unit said the investigation is “completely independent of any previous investigation in relation to the original incident, to ensure that the families of the dead and injured can have full confidence and trust in the process”.

Barnaby’s mother Emma Webber said her family received a letter informing them of the investigation.

She said: “So many individuals and organizations have failed Barney, Grace and Ian. It’s outrageous.

“Leicester and Nottingham police forces, the NHS, the CPS and now the wider courts and prison and probation service. When will this stop?”

A special constable in Nottinghamshire Police in February caught To view bodycam footage showing the aftermath of the attacks.