A man has admitted killing two students and a caretaker in a spate of attacks in Nottingham.

Valdo Calocane, 32, denied murdering Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates on 13 June this year, but pleaded guilty to their manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

He also pleaded guilty to attempting to murder three others.

Prosecutor Karim Khalil said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) would need further time to decide whether Calocane’s pleas were acceptable or not.

University of Nottingham students Ms O’Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber, both 19, had been celebrating the end of their exams when they were stabbed to death as they walked home from a night out.

School caretaker Mr Coates, 65, was also killed on his way to work at Huntingdon Academy.

Calocane, who was himself a former student at the university, also hit three pedestrians – Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski and Sharon Miller – while driving Mr Coates’ van in Milton Street and Upper Parliament Street, in the city centre.

He was arrested on the day of the attacks.

Calocane, who answered to the name Adam Mendes, appeared in the dock at Nottingham Crown Court dressed in a dark suit and looked straight ahead during the 15-minute hearing.

Judge Mr Justice Turner adjourned the case until 16 January 16 next year.