Nottingham assaults: School caretaker Ian Coates was ‘a selfless man’ and ‘sensible bloke’

Jun 16, 2023 at 12:55 AM
Nottingham assaults: School caretaker Ian Coates was ‘a selfless man’ and ‘sensible bloke’

School caretaker Ian Coates, who was killed within the Nottingham assaults, has been described as a “selfless man” and “brilliant bloke” by one among his outdated pals.

Ben Dutton was 13 when he met Mr Coates, who was working as a caretaker at a “rough school”.

Now 33, Mr Dutton stated: “It broke my heart what’s happened… It killed me”.

Student Ben found Mr Coates’s love for angling and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the caretaker took the youngsters on fishing journeys after college utilizing his personal cash.

Mr Dutton stated: “He set up and fishing club and taught us the basics in the classroom. From there he’d pay out of his own pocket and take us on a coach trip and take us fishing.

“All of us – all the youngsters. Right up till we had been 15/16.”

Ian Coates
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Ian Coates was a eager fisherman

Mr Dutton paid tribute to the Huntingdon Academy caretaker’s “selflessness”, saying he “just gave everything to them kids so they had a chance”.

Mr Dutton’s relationship with Mr Coates outlived his college years as he grew to become a professional angler and now runs a fishing store.

Mr Coates was “dead proud of that” achievement and because the years handed he joined Mr Dutton’s crew on fishing journeys.

According to his family members, the 65-year-old was attributable to retire in just a few months.

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Mr Dutton revealed they had been happening vacation in July and described Mr Coates as “all excited” for it.

“I just sorted it all out,” Mr Dutton stated. “He was all excited and said he wasn’t bringing his teeth with him. That’s how he was. Now we’re in turmoil over it.”

He added: “You can’t comprehend that it’s happened to us, his family and it’s him. I can’t deal with what’s happened to him – [it’s] killing me inside.”

A message left at Magdala Road in Nottingham, from from a school pupil for school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, who was found fatally stabbed. Two 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, along with Mr Coates were stabbed to death before the attacker attempted to run over three people in Nottingham, on Tuesday morning. Picture date: Thursday June 15, 2023.
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A message left for Ian Coates

Mr Dutton closed the store early right this moment he and workers might attend the vigil for the three killed within the assault.

The headteacher at Huntingdon Academy, Ross Middleton, spoke on the vigil, saying Mr Coates performed a “crucial role in keeping our children and colleagues safe” throughout COVID, and “always put the children first”.

“His time, commitment and caring nature endeared him to the whole school community and we will all remember him with great affection,” he added.

Two 19-year-old University of Nottingham college students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber had been the opposite victims.

Grace Kumar and Barnaby Webber
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Grace Kumar and Barnaby Webber

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How Nottingham assaults unfolded

Nottinghamshire Police stated a 31-year-old man was tasered and arrested on suspicion of homicide after the three victims had been stabbed to demise.

Police declared a significant incident after the 2 college students had been discovered useless on the street in Ilkeston Road simply after 4am on Tuesday and Mr Coates was discovered round two miles away in Magdala Road.

The suspect is believed to have stolen Mr Coates’ van and pushed at pedestrians in Milton Street.

Three folks had been injured within the van assault, with one in vital situation in hospital and two struggling minor accidents. After the car was stopped, police used a stun gun to arrest the suspect.