Nottingham victim 'a selfless man' and 'brilliant bloke'

School caretaker Ian Coates, who was killed in the Nottingham attacks, has been described as a “selfless man” and “brilliant bloke” by one of his old friends.

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

Now 33, Mr Dutton said ” itbroke my heart what’s happened… It killed me”.

Student Ben discovered Mr Coates’s love for angling and it wasn’t long before the caretaker took the kids on fishing trips after school using his own money.

Mr Dutton said: “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 kids. Right up until we were 15/16.”

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 school years as he became a pro angler and now runs a fishing shop.

Mr Coates was “dead proud of that” achievement and as the years passed he joined Mr Dutton’s crew on fishing trips.

According to his loved ones, the 65-year-old was due to retire in a few months.

Mr Dutton revealed they were going on holiday in July and described Mr Coates as “all excited” for it.

“I just sorted it all out,” Mr Dutton said. “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.”

Mr Dutton closed the shop early today he and staff could attend the vigil for the three killed in the attack.

The headteacher at Huntingdon Academy, Ross Middleton, spoke at the vigil, saying Mr Coates played a “crucial role in keeping our children and colleagues safe” during 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.

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Two 19-year-old University of Nottingham students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber were the other victims.

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Nottinghamshire Police said a 31-year-old man was tasered and arrested on suspicion of murder after the three victims were stabbed to death.

Police declared a major incident after the two students were found dead in the street in Ilkeston Road just after 4am on Tuesday and Mr Coates was found around two miles away in Magdala Road.

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

Three people were injured in the van attack, with one in critical condition in hospital and two suffering minor injuries. After the vehicle was stopped, police used a stun gun to arrest the suspect.

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