Peter Brooks, who wanted Graeme Perks “out of the way” after he took part in a disciplinary probe, tried to kill him in a horror petrol and knife attack during the Covid lockdown
A plastic surgeon has been found guilty of attempting to murder a colleague he wanted “out of the way” who took part in a disciplinary hearing against him.
Peter Brooks, 61, broke into the £1m family home of fellow doctor Graeme Perks and stabbed him after trying to burn down the property, a court heard. He had armed himself with petrol, matches and a knife before cycling to the house in camouflage gear to get his colleague “out of the way”. Brooks doused the property in petrol and stabbed Mr Perks, 67, when he came downstairs after hearing a loud noise.
He was rushed to hospital after being found by his wife and son and only survived thanks to “quick action and amazing surgical skill”. Brooks was found “cold and asleep” on a garden bench several hours later and arrested in hospital after being taken by paramedics for injuries to his hand. Today, jurors found Brooks guilty after deliberating for more than 12 hours at Leicester Crown Court, sitting in Loughborough.
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Brooks, a consultant specialising in burns and plastics, was convicted today on two counts of attempted murder – one for the intended use of fire and the other for the stabbing – attempted arson with intent to endanger life, and possession of a knife in a public place. The attack took place in January 2021 during the Covid lockdown, three days after disciplinary proceedings had begun against the defendant.
Brooks tried to get the hearing postponed a day before the attack in Halam, Nottinghamshire – but his request was refused. The jury was told that Brooks potentially faced losing his job with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust as a result of the disciplinary proceedings.
Prosecutors said he then decided “that instead of following the law he was going to take the law into his own hands”. The court heard how Brooks cycled through snowy weather to Mr Perks’ home in the early hours of January 14, 2021, wearing camouflage gear and armed with a crowbar, petrol, matches and a knife.
Mr Perks, who worked with Brooks at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, lived with wife Beverley, 68, and adult son Henry. He had retired the month before the attack, and was left with “extremely life-threatening” injuries to his liver, intestines and pancreas, and was given a 95% chance of death, the court heard.
Mr Perks was woken in the early hours of January 14 when Brooks smashed through his conservatory and went downstairs. He noticed his feet “felt a bit damp” from the petrol before he felt a “blow to his body”, the jury heard.
The court was also told Brooks had thrown petrol up the walls of the stairs while Mr Perks’ wife and youngest son were sleeping upstairs. Brooks’s DNA was found on the knife, while fragments of glass were discovered on his clothing. Opening the case, prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC told the jury it was “clear that the defendant hated Graeme Perks” and wanted him “out of the way”.
Brooks was “voluntarily absent” from his month-long trial as he was on hunger strike, saying he would “rather be dead than incacerated”. 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 on April 1 from HMP Norwich, in the absence of the jury. Brooks told Mr Justice Pepperall he wanted to defend himself, that he did not have “sufficient time to prepare for the trial” and asked for 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.”
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 mis-trial 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.
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.”
Rachael Dean, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “Peter Brooks committed an act of extreme violence, attempting to murder a highly respected colleague. This was a planned, calculated attack, in which Brooks showed he was determined to kill his former boss.
“Since committing these atrocious acts, Brooks has sought to evade responsibility by any means. Today, justice has caught up with him and he must now face the consequences of his criminal actions.
“His victim was fortunate to escape with his life and his whole family were in danger from Brooks’s inexplicable actions. Despite the physical and emotional trauma they have endured, they have returned to tell the court their story. This has been a long process and I hope that today’s conviction will help with their continued recovery from this ordeal.”
Brooks, who is also known by the first name Jonathan, will be sentenced on June 3.
