Plastic surgeon struck off after attempted murder and arson in professional grudge
Jonathan Peter Brooks, a 62-year-old plastic surgeon specialising in burns treatment, has been officially struck off the medical register following his conviction for attempted murder and arson. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing concluded that Brooks posed a high risk to public safety due to his premeditated actions, which stemmed from a long-standing professional dispute with colleague Graeme Perks, 69.
Violent attack in Nottinghamshire home
In January 2021, Brooks executed a calculated plan to settle what he described as a 'professional grudge' against Mr Perks. He broke into Mr Perks's £1 million home in Halam, Nottinghamshire, in the middle of the night, wearing a camouflage suit and balaclava while brandishing a crowbar. Brooks doused the property with petrol with the intention of setting it on fire, but was discovered when Mr Perks heard noise and went downstairs to investigate.
Upon confrontation, Brooks produced a knife and stabbed Mr Perks multiple times in the stomach, causing severe injuries that required extensive medical intervention. Mr Perks lost ten pints of blood and was placed in a medically induced coma, surviving only due to the quick actions and surgical skill of medical professionals.
Legal proceedings and sentencing
Brooks was convicted of attempted murder, arson with intent to endanger life, and possession of a knife in a public place at Nottingham Crown Court. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years, later adjusted to 17 years and 223 days after accounting for time served on remand. The judge, Mr Justice Pepperall, described the attack as a 'sustained and determined attempt to commit murder' and noted Brooks's 'murderous intent'.
During the MPTS hearing, Brooks was unrepresented and made no written representations. Adam Birkby, representing the General Medical Council (GMC), argued that Brooks's fitness to practice was impaired due to the 'premeditated, determined and sustained attempt to commit murder to satisfy a professional grudge'. Tribunal chair Sarah Hamilton stated that Brooks's conduct fell towards the higher end of seriousness, with no insight, remediation, or remorse shown.
Background of the dispute
The conflict between Brooks and Mr Perks emerged from workplace disciplinary proceedings at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, where both worked. Brooks had been excluded from the wards in 2015 after colleagues reported an inability to work with him. He later lost a tribunal case against the trust, claiming whistleblowing and seeking £500,000 in compensation, with Mr Perks's statements forming part of the evidence.
Brooks's attack occurred just three days after the final stage of disciplinary proceedings against him began, which were likely to result in his dismissal. Prosecutors stated that Brooks was 'frustrated' by these proceedings and decided to 'take the law into his own hands'.
Impact on the victim and family
Mr Perks, a retired plastic surgeon and former president of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, suffered life-altering injuries. He was left with significant scarring, exhaustion from climbing stairs, and requires lifelong blood-thinning medication. In a victim impact statement, Mr Perks expressed no hard feelings or bitterness, calling the experience a 'life-enhancing' chapter due to the support he received.
His wife, Beverley Perks, a retired nurse, described the ordeal as a 'hideous experience' that knocked her confidence and caused intrusive thoughts about what might have happened if the fuel had ignited. The family had to move out of their home for three months due to fuel contamination and restoration work.
Brooks's behaviour and risk assessment
Brooks, who qualified as a plastic surgeon in 1988 and had worked with Medicines Sans Frontiers in disaster zones, showed a history of manipulative behaviour and refusal to cooperate with authorities. A psychiatrist assessed him as having features of a disordered personality with narcissistic and dissocial traits, along with paranoia, and concluded he poses a high risk of violence.
Throughout the legal process, Brooks repeatedly sacked lawyers, went on hunger strikes, and refused to cooperate, causing the trial to be rescheduled nine times. He did not attend his sentencing in person, watching via videolink instead, and showed no remorse for his actions.
Conclusion and ongoing measures
The MPTS tribunal determined that Brooks's actions engaged all three parts of public protection, with a high level of ongoing risk. He has been struck off the doctoral register, and a restraining order bans him from contacting the Perks family or entering their village of Halam. Detective Inspector Matt Scott of Nottinghamshire Police praised the victim and family for their courage throughout the distressing ordeal, while the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted Brooks's attempts to evade responsibility.
This case underscores the severe consequences of professional grievances escalating into violence, with Brooks's medical career now irrevocably ended alongside his imprisonment.
