A man who has been accused of murdering three people in Nottingham, including 19-year-old London student Grace O'Malley-Kumar, has pleaded not guilty today (Tuesday November 28). Valdo Calocane, 32, of no fixed address, was charged with the murder of three people - Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates - and with the attempted murders of Sharon Miller, Marcin Gawronski and Wayne Birkett on June 13.
While Calocane has pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder at Nottingham Crown Court, he has issued guilty pleas regarding charges of manslaughter and attempted murder. Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC has told the hearing the crown will need time to consider whether or not the pleas are acceptable or not, NottinghamshireLive has reported.
Peter Joyce KC, defending, said to the judge: "You know what the issues are and the world should know this: The defendant does not dispute the physical acts of any of the prosecution's case. Though he committed these dreadful acts, he did this while he was suffering from extreme mental illness."
Valdo Calocane pleaded not guilty in a packed coutroom (Image: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire)
`
The two University of Nottingham students were stabbed to death at around 4am on Ilkeston Road, just a few minutes from their university halls.
Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, were both 19 when they were killed. Ian Coates, a primary school caretaker in his 60s, was also found dead with knife wounds near Mapperley Park, Nottingham, sometime after 5am.
Ian had his van stolen and was fatally attacked just under two miles away from where the students were found. His van was then driven into three people waiting at a bus stop on Milton Street in Nottingham’s city centre at around 5.30am.
Grace grew up in London, and had attended Bancroft's School in North-East London. She was a keen sportswoman and was a member of the England U16 and U18 hockey squads, as well as playing for Southgate Hockey Club and Woodford Wells Cricket Club in London.
Her funeral was held at Westminster Cathedral in July, with more than 1,000 guests estimated to be in attendance to pay their respects. During the funeral, her father Dr Sanjoy Kumar said: “No father should be called upon to give a eulogy for their child.
Grace Kumar's family have been left utterly devastated (Image: Nottinghamshire Police)
“It’s not the natural order of things. It generally means something really unnatural has taken place and unfortunately for me, my beloved daughter Grace has been taken away from us.”
Dr Kumar spoke about his daughter’s dedication to medicine and mentioned that she had volunteered to vaccinate people when he became the operations lead for a Covid vaccination centre in Waltham Forest. The congregation heard that Ms O’Malley-Kumar had wanted to apply to the Royal Army Medical Corps to further her medical training, inspired by her father and uncle, an orthopaedic surgeon.
Her mother Sinead O’Malley told the service that her daughter had been “cruelly and inexplicably taken”. She said: “She came into our lives here in Westminster at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. Her birth registered here, and it is now from Westminster that she will leave. Grace was such a perfect gift to us.”
A funeral for Mr Webber was held at Taunton Minster in Taunton, Somerset, earlier in the month.
North London residents are calling for urgent changes to a Wembley Stadium bus route that prematurely stops on event days. Locals claim this ‘disproportionately affects the most vulnerable’ people, including the elderly, disabled, and parents with children.
The number 206 bus that runs between Kilburn Park and The Paddocks in Wembley stops at Brent Park many hours before an event is held at the stadium. Brent Council said it is “committed” to completing road works that will enable the service to use an alternative route.
Resident Peggy Wylie raised the issue at a recent council meeting (November 20). She said for many the route is “a real necessity” and pressured the administration to commit to completing the remaining works to ensure the route is fully operational by spring of next year.
The 206 bus doesn't go any further than Brent Park on Wembley Stadium event days (Image: TfL)
Peggy said: “The suspension of this service to the Wembley Park, Kings Drive, The Paddocks and Salmon Street area disproportionately affects our most vulnerable residents - the elderly, disabled, parents with small children and women travelling home alone at night.
She added: “It also affects people needing to travel from this area to reach their place of employment and in particular those that work for Tesco, IKEA [...] and the large number of school children who rely on this bus to take them to and from home safely.”
The Wembley Area Action Plan proposed to open North End Road, which would allow traffic to and from Bridge Road and enable the 206 bus to complete the entire route on match days. These works, alongside the Wembley 2 Way project, have now been completed but Peggy said residents are “still deprived” of the full service.
Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action, Cllr Krupa Sheth, said: Transport for London (TfL) are responsible for providing bus services in London but the council requests improvements “to satisfy the needs of residents and businesses” and works with them on Wembley Stadium event days where diverting services is necessary “for security”.
TfL carried out a consultation earlier this year on proposed changes to the 206 route after the introduction of the two-way arrangement in the area. Following the consultation and subsequent tests of the route, TfL confirmed that, due to the need for further signal work at the junction of Bridge Road and North End, as well as parking controls and strengthening of a water culvert, a revised change to the route would need to be implemented.
Cllr Sheth said: “The latter is now required in order to support the intention to introduce electric buses on the 206 route. As such, and for the immediate future at least, route 206 will continue to serve Fulton Road and Rutherford road.”
She added: “It is intended that all these changes will be introduced during 2024. The Council will continue to work with TfL to deliver improvements to bus services through the area on stadium event days and throughout the borough.”
A TfL spokesperson said: "Buses play a vital role in enabling people to travel affordably and sustainably and we work hard to ensure that we can run as full a service as possible, while accommodating major events and other disruption on the road network. Occasionally on busier match days this means having to slightly shorten the 206 route."
They added: “Following a recent consultation and feedback from the local community, we took the decision not to reroute the 206 via North End Road at this time as work would be needed to strengthen a road bridge over the canal. We continue to keep our service on match days under review to ensure we can offer the best possible service to our customers."
People not from London always comment about how unfriendly Londoners are and how everyone looks miserable on the Tube. One Brummie decided to put that to the test, boarding a packed London Underground train to try to find friendly people and fellow passengers couldn't look less impressed by his attempt.
In the video posted on TikTok, you can see the Brummie practically shout on a Piccadilly line train: "So London is full of friendly people. As you can see these people are very friendly. Hello, everyone. Hello, hello. Is anyone friendly? Is there any friendly people on this train, please?"
He then shouts at two people near him "Are you friendly, brother? Are you friendly, Madam? London is full of friendly people, as you can see. Everybody in here is saying hello to me." Most people on the Tube are trying to avoid eye contact with the Brummie, and to be fair you can understand why.
The Brummie continues to shout about people not being that friendly and does so when transferring to the Jubilee Line, before boarding another train and continuing on his antics.
On this train, where it is not busy, he starts speaking loudly again: "We're from up north., we're friendly. London people, they will not talk to you because they are not friendly like us. But yeah. Anyways, if you're a tourist in London, please be vigilant. Look, nobody smiles."
However, on this train, he does meet someone who responds to him and acts friendly. The Brummie then says: "Mate, you're the first person who's fully smiled in London. Actually, there's some nice people in London." He then asks them 'Are you from London?' to which they respond 'no' which the Brummie then uses to prove his point.
Many people in the comments have found the TikTok very funny and there are many other TikToks that people make on the Tube. MyLondon covered one story about people urinating on the Tube seats on the Central Line which sparked mass outrage from people.
It's fair to say London has changed immeasurably since Monopoly was invented in 1935. Gone are the days of the West End simply being the most sought-after area as trendy hubs have popped up in all four corners of the city.
This increase in popularity has inevitably led to rapid gentrification and a house price boom. The slums of the old East End have been replaced by Shoreditch, Liverpool Street and the Docklands, as professionals have replaced its former blue-collar workforce.
While prices across the board have soared, an effective game of Monopoly has played out in Central London. Investors from across the globe have snapped up properties in prime locations just for them to sit empty - leading to the already insane prices skyrocketing further.
As a result of this, the modern day version of Monopoly would look a fair bit different from the original. With this in mind MyLondon has taken a look at average house prices across the board - from Old Kent Road to Mayfair - ranking them using Rightmove data.
The browns
The Old Kent Road stretches through South East London from Elephant and Castle to Peckham (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
Old Kent Road
Once again Old Kent Road has ranked the cheapest street in London - with current house prices at £490,035. Most properties sold along the South East London road over the past year were flats, with the average fetching £433,000.
Pentonville Road is the first change on the list as it's been demoted from the light blue category. Average house prices on the Central London road connecting Kings Cross to Islington currently sit at £597,500 according to Rightmove, down from their 2018 peak of £1,107,143.
The light blues
Whitechapel Market hugs the Whitechapel Road (Image: David Nathan)
Whitechapel Road
Whitechapel Road has been upgraded from brown to the light blue category. The street is part of London's East End, although it has experienced rapid gentrification over the past few years.
Although Rightmove doesn't have specific data for the road, the average property value in Whitechapel is £760,341. It has benefitted from fresh Elizabeth line connections, while it's also on both the Underground and Overground.
Vine Street
Vine Street has had the opposite tale of fortune as it's been relegated from orange to light blue. One of the most obscure streets on the board, it previously had one of the busiest police stations in the world.
Perhaps most famously, it was the site where the Marquess of Queensbury was charged with libel against Oscar Wilde in 1895. This public trial backfired on Wilde as he ended up being imprisoned for homosexuality the same year.
Rightmove doesn't have specific property data for Vine Street, but the average value for a property in the Piccadilly Circus area (which it sits in) is currently £1,124,833.
Bow Street
Fellow orange location Bow Street has also become a light blue stop. Properties in the the Covent Garden street currently sit at £1,184,654 on average. Previously known for its links to the police and law, the area has become popular among tourists visiting London.
The pinks
Angel in North London (Image: Google Maps)
The Angel, Islington
The Angel in Islington has been promoted from a light blue to a pink street on this new look Monopoly board. With one of the only London Underground stations named after a pub, average property values in the North London area currently sit at £1,185,342.
The Angel has now sadly closed, as the building has been converted into offices, although other pubs have opened in its honour in the nearby area.
Whitehall
The home of the civil service, properties in Whitehall are now worth £1,200,000 on average. It's the first non-mover since Old Kent Road as it remains in the pink category.
From its exterior, Whitehall is known as the location of the Cenotaph and the monument to the women of WW2. In recent weeks it's been at the centre of enormous protests over the war in Gaza.
Leicester Square
Iconic West End location Leicester Square is the final pink street on the fresh Monopoly board. Sliding down from a yellow location, the average property in Leicester Square is worth slightly more than Whitehall at £1,201,333. Perhaps the problems posed by rogue pedicab riders has had an impact on property prices.
The oranges
Trafalgar Square and Nelson's column
Marlborough Street
Marlborough Street is the only orange street still in its initial place. Properties in the Soho area currently fetch £1,216,893 - although specific data was not available on Rightmove for Great Marlborough Street.
The street was named John Churchill - the 1st Duke of Marlborough and ancestor of Winston Churchill - as it became a fashionable area in the 18th and 19th centuries. This reputation has remained intact as Soho is a vibrant hotspot for bars, clubbing and restaurants.
Trafalgar Square
The site of Nelson's Column, the average property in Trafalgar Square is worth £1,247,469. We had to use data for the Charing Cross area as Trafalgar Square is not exactly residential...
Trafalgar Square has been relegated from a red street, which shows just how pricey these Monopoly board locations are about to get.
Northumberland Avenue
Northumberland Avenue has climbed from pink to orange on our new look Monopoly board. The average property on the street is now worth £1,301,000 according to Rightmove.
The reds
The Strand in Central London (Image: Google)
Coventry Street
Coventry Street is a short street in the West End connecting Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square. It's dropped from a red to a yellow street on this version of Monopoly.
The average property is worth £1,344,083, as it remains in the former section of the board known for entertainment and nightlife. It's the original location of The Flamingo Club, previously one of London's most famous jazz clubs.
Euston Road
Euston Road has made a huge surge up the board from blue to a red street. According to Rightmove, property prices on the road currently sit at £1,351,250
The Strand
The Strand is the only place to remain a red street on the board. Average property prices currently sit at £1,425,000. The road dates back to Roman Britain almost 2,000 years ago, and has since become part of the West End's theatreland.
The yellows
Oxford Street is the busiest road for shopping in Europe but it's seen a decline in recent times (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga)
Regent Street
Regent Street has been relegated from a green to a yellow street on our version of Monopoly. House prices in the area currently sit at £1,608,000 on average - although we had to use data for the Oxford Circus area.
The Central London street is known for its stunning architecture, along with its flagship stores and international brands.
Fleet Street
Another big hike in property prices is on the way. In Temple (no specific data for Rightmove is available in Fleet Street), the average property fetches £2,356,667.
Fleet Street is well-known as the former centre of British newspapers, although many have now departed to Canary Wharf, London Bridge, Kensington and other parts of the city. A red street on the initial Monopoly board, it has been upgraded to a yellow.
Oxford Street
The heart of London's West End is the final yellow location on our comprehensive list. The average property in Oxford Street currently fetches £2,766,460.
Waterloo Place, empty streets amidst old buildings in Pall Mall
Pall Mall
On our present day Monopoly board Pall Mall has climbed from a pink to a green street. The Westminster street is named after a ball game played there during the 17th century, which in turn is derived from the Italian pallamaglio, literally "ball-mallet". According to Rightmove, the average property on Pall Mall fetched £4,738,586 over the past 12 months.
Piccadilly
House prices along Piccadilly, which connects Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park, have surged to an eye-watering £5,016,100. House hunters haven't been turned away by the bright neon lights and busy crowds as it's now designated a green street, up from yellow.
Mayfair
The most expensive location on the original Monopoly board, Mayfair isn't even considered a dark blue location on the new look version. But it's hardly like properties are no longer desirable in the West London area. According to Rightmove, the average place in the West End area now fetches £6,355,827.
The dark blues
Park Lane runs between Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner and is one of the poshest parts of London (Image: Andrew Holt/Getty)
Bond Street
Located near Oxford Street, Bond Street has climbed up to the prestigious dark blue category. It has one of the busiest Underground stations in London, while this has only increased further since the Elizabeth line opened last year. The average property price in Bond Street now sits at £7,588,811
Park Lane
You might notice that in recent entries property prices have climbed quite quickly - but you've seen nothing yet. Park Lane has brushed aside Mayfair to take a prime spot on the Monopoly board, as property values now sit at £12,000,000. Perhaps a victim of foreign investment, the area has some of London's most luxurious flats with a stunning view of Hyde Park.
Get all the stories from the cost of living crisis alongside financial hints and tips straight to your inbox with the MyMoney newsletter. You can sign up HERE.
A man who was stabbed to death inside a car in East London has been named and pictured for the first time. Anselam Senaj, 26, was found with stab wounds in the vehicle at the junction of Victoria Avenue and Grangewood Street in Newham just after 10pm on November 11.
Now four teenagers and a 20-year-old man have been charged with his murder. Khalis Malik, 18, of Pittman Gardens, Ilford, Zain Ali, 20, of Poulett Road, East Ham, Esahak Yusuf, 19, of Benson Avenue, East Ham, and two 17-year-old boys are all due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on Friday (November 24).
Police say Mr Senaj died of a stab wound to the chest. His family have been informed of the latest update and continue to be supported by specialist police officers, according to the force.
Writing on GoFundMe, family member Elira Senaj wrote: "Hi as a family member it's hard enough to accept this loss at such a young age, we have lost our brother in the most tragic way possible. At the age of 26 being stabbed to death.
"Signed up GoFundMe to have your support to help as much as possible to have him returned back home to Albania, help family with funeral cost as it's hard enough dealing with the loss of their son and on top suffer financially. We call for your support so he can be returned home to rest at peace." Another family member wrote: "May you rest in paradise ANSI."
A Met Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at 22:11hrs on Saturday, 11 November to reports that a man had been stabbed inside a car at the junction of Victoria Avenue and Grangewood Street, E6.
"Officers attended and a man, named as Anselam Senaj, was found with stab wounds. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and continue to be supported by specialist officers.
"A post-mortem examination on 13 November gave cause of death as a stab wound to the chest. On 22 November, warrants were issued at various addresses in London and five people were arrested and taken into custody."
Six males, the youngest aged just 16 and the oldest 22, have been arrested at their homes today (November 23) following a vile homophobic attack in East London in which two men were verbally abused with one hit over the head with a wooden plank.
Police were first called on Sunday October 1 after the two men in their 20s were attacked at around 5.30pm by a group while walking along High Road in Chadwell Heath.
A group of six men hurled abuse at the victims before then making threats towards them. This escalated further when one of the abusers picked up a plank of wood and hit one of the victims over the head with it, causing cuts and bruises that required hospital treatment.
The attack happened on Chadwell Heath High Road (Image: Google)
The second victim was not injured, but both were understandably distressed by the horrific incident.
Chief Inspector Chris Nixon, from the East Area Command Unit, said: “This morning’s arrests are the culmination of our investigation into an unprovoked assault on two men, that left one requiring hospital treatment.
“We are keeping the victims updated, and those arrested will be taken to police stations where they’ll be interviewed about their involvement in this attack.
“We are aware of the corrosive effect of hate crime and remain determined to bring those responsible for such crimes to justice. I hope that these arrests will send out a signal to those who think they can get away with homophobic abuse and violence that we will track you down.”
Police say a dedicated LGBTQ+ liaison officer will continue to have oversight of the investigation and provide support to the victims.
Any witnesses or anyone with any information or footage are being asked to call police on 101 or contact via ‘X’ Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 5640/01Oct. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Shoppers are predicted to spend an average of £214 in the Black Friday sales this year, which could bag you return flights to Amsterdam. A poll of 2,030 adults found four in 10 plan to get involved in the annual sales bonanza, with men outspending women by nearly £80 (£247.49 to £172.70).
Londoners are the most willing to splash the cash (£297.20), while those living in Wales are the most reserved at £113.45. Those aged 45 to 54 are set to spend the most (£236.68), while the 65 and overs will spend the least at £155.28.
Half of those polled think Black Friday is overhyped and 30 per cent reckon it's a bogus American import. Despite this, a quarter (26 per cent) think it’s a great time to buy for Christmas and is a great money-saving opportunity (21 per cent).
Some think Black Friday is just a bogus American import (Image: Richard Baker/Getty)
A spokesperson for OnePoll, which commissioned the research, said: "There can be value in looking for a good bargain.
“Shoppers are pulled in different directions, so knowing where to spend your hard-earned cash can be tricky. But it’s clear that when people do decided to buy things in the Black Friday sales, they’re looking to get the most out of their money.”
The study found one in 10 adults do all of their shopping exclusively online, while 42 per cent said they did most of it via the internet.
As a sign of the times, just nine per cent said they did little to none of their shopping online. And the Black Friday sale was just edged out ahead of the New Year’s sales as the nation’s favourite (48 to 47 per cent respectively).
The OnePoll spokesperson added: “Whether it’s a new set of cutlery, or a bigger buy, Black Friday deals are all the rage. But make sure you’re nabbing yourself a good deal, as it can be tricky to get swept up in the craziness of it all.”
Get the best deals, sales and bargains sent straight to your phone
You can now join MyLondon's new WhatsApp Community to get the best deals, sales, bargains and much more.
Through WhatsApp, we'll send the latest exciting new products and bargains straight to your phone, both across London and online.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the MyLondon team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
