Plastic surgeon Peter Brooks found guilty of attempting to murder former boss

A plastic surgeon has been found guilty of the attempted murder of his former boss, who he stabbed after a failed attempt to set his house on fire.

Peter Brooks had cycled to the home of Graeme Perks in Halam, near Southwell, Nottinghamshire, while wearing camouflage gear and armed with a crowbar, petrol, matches and a knife in the early hours of 14 January 2021.

The 61-year-old then doused the ground floor of the property with petrol before stabbing fellow plastic surgeon Mr Perks because he wanted him "out of the way", his trial at Loughborough Courthouse heard.

The victim's wife and children were sleeping at the time of the attack which took place during a COVID lockdown, the jury was told.

The jury heard Mr Perks, a consultant plastic surgeon who was previously Brooks' boss, had provided evidence in disciplinary proceedings against the defendant, who faced potentially losing his job with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Brooks was "voluntarily absent" from his month-long trial because he was on hunger strike and said he would "rather be dead than incarcerated", it can now be reported.

He also sacked his lawyers before the trial and was unrepresented in the case.

When opening the prosecution's case, Tracy Ayling KC had told the jury it was "clear that the defendant hated Graeme Perks" and wanted him "out of the way".

Mr Perks, who was 65 at the time, had retired the month before the stabbing and suffered "extremely life-threatening" injuries to his liver, intestines and pancreas, and was given a 95% chance of death, the court was told.

He had woken up on the night of the attack when Brooks smashed through his conservatory, the jury heard.

Mr Perks then went downstairs where his feet "felt a bit damp" from the petrol, which Brooks had also thrown against the wall next to the stairs, before he felt a "blow to his body", the court was told.

Brooks fled the scene on his bicycle after the stabbing and returned to his home in nearby Southwell.

He was found asleep on a garden bench later that morning when he was taken to hospital for injuries to his hand, and was arrested.

Brooks' blood was found in the conservatory of Mr Perks' home and on a crowbar he had used to force entry.

His blood was also found on the handle of the knife used in the attack.

The consultant, who specialised in burns, has been convicted of two counts of attempted murder, attempted arson with intent to endanger life, and possession of a knife in a public place.

Jurors deliberated for more than 12 hours before finding Brooks guilty of all the charges against him.

His hunger strike could not be reported throughout the trial and the jury were told not to speculate about his absence from the dock.

He appeared in court via video-link for the first time in the trial from HMP Norwich on 1 April, in the absence of the jury, and told the judge Mr Justice Pepperall he wanted to defend himself, that he did not have "sufficient time to prepare" for the trial, and wanted a four-week adjournment.

Brooks, who could be seen lying on the floor during his court appearance because sitting in his wheelchair made him "feel unwell", said: "I would rather be dead than in prison so I continued with my hunger strike. I have had enough of being in prison.

"I don't particularly want to die but if my choice is between incarceration and death, I would rather be dead than incarcerated."

Brooks said his autism may have made it more likely that he went on hunger strike and added that someone in hospital said he "may be suffering from anorexia".

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Ms Ayling responded to Brooks' submissions and said he was "manipulating the court process", and that the court had "bent over backwards" to maintain his rights in the trial.

The judge agreed to adjourn the trial for 48 hours for Brooks to give evidence, but he became upset and said he was "not well enough" to do so at short notice.

The court heard he "asked to be taken back to his cell" and refused to participate further in proceedings.

Mr Justice Pepperall ruled that on "no fewer than eight occasions" since 2021 Brooks had "used hunger strikes or the threat of some other self-harm to achieve some advantage".

Brooks' convictions follow a four-year series of legal hearings, including a mistrial and seven other aborted trial dates.

He put forward numerous possible defences, including self-defence and lack of intent, but never gave evidence directly to a jury.

His first trial, in July 2022, had to be adjourned because he was suffering from a medical complication of radiotherapy, which required surgery.

Manjeet Shehmar, medical director at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We have been following the case of Mr Brooks closely and respect the decision made in court today.

"We would like to offer our sympathies to those who were affected by Mr Brooks' actions, including Mr Perks and his family, and other colleagues from within the Trust."

Brooks, who is also known by the first name Jonathan, is expected to attend his sentencing at the same court on 3 June.

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