Plastic Surgeon Jailed for Attempted Murder of Colleague

Jonathan Peter Brooks, a 61-year-old plastic surgeon specializing in burns, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years for attempting to murder his colleague Graeme Perks. In January 2021, during a COVID lockdown and while Perks' family was asleep upstairs, Brooks broke into Perks' Nottinghamshire home at night, wearing camouflage and armed with a crowbar, petrol, matches, and a knife, aiming to prevent Perks from testifying in disciplinary proceedings. Brooks doused the ground floor with petrol and stabbed Perks, who survived emergency surgery despite a 95% risk of death. Brooks was convicted on two counts of attempted murder, attempted arson with intent to endanger life, and possession of a bladed article. He was absent from much of the trial due to a hunger strike and repeated attempts to use self-harm to manipulate the proceedings. The judge described Brooks' actions as a 'murderous expedition' involving premeditated and violent intent.