Respected plastic surgeon found guilty after midnight attack on former boss leaves medical community stunned
When Darkness Falls: The Shocking Double Life of a Respected Surgeon
The medical community has been left reeling after the conviction of a plastic surgeon who led a terrifying double life, culminating in an elaborate murder attempt on his former boss.
Dr. Peter Brooks, a 61-year-old plastic surgeon once trusted by colleagues and patients alike, has been found guilty of attempting to murder his former boss in a meticulously planned night attack that has sent shockwaves through the medical profession.
In what prosecutors described as a calculated assassination attempt, Brooks cycled to the home of Graeme Perks in Halam, Nottinghamshire, under the cover of darkness at approximately 2am. But this was no ordinary house call – Brooks arrived dressed in full camouflage gear and armed with a disturbing arsenal: a crowbar, petrol, matches, and a knife.
The court heard how Brooks broke into Mr. Perks' home while the victim, his wife, and children were sleeping during a COVID lockdown in January 2021. After forcing entry through the conservatory, Brooks poured petrol throughout the ground floor of the property in what investigators believe was an attempt to trap the family in a fire.
When Mr. Perks was awakened by the noise and came downstairs to investigate, he felt his feet become "damp" from the petrol before Brooks delivered what could have been a fatal blow, stabbing him so severely that doctors gave him a 95% chance of death. Mr. Perks suffered "extremely life-threatening" injuries to his liver, intestines, and pancreas.
What makes this case particularly disturbing is the professional relationship between the two men. Mr. Perks, who had recently retired at age 65, was Brooks' former boss at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Evidence presented at trial suggested Brooks harbored deep resentment toward Mr. Perks, who had provided testimony in disciplinary proceedings against Brooks – proceedings that could have potentially cost Brooks his medical career.
"It is clear that the defendant hated Graeme Perks and wanted him out of the way," prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC told the jury during the trial.
Perhaps equally shocking was Brooks' behavior during the legal proceedings. He was "voluntarily absent" from his own month-long trial because he was on hunger strike, telling the court he would "rather be dead than incarcerated." Brooks dismissed his legal team before the trial began and remained unrepresented throughout the case.
After the attack, Brooks fled the scene on his bicycle and returned to his home in nearby Southwell. He was found asleep on a garden bench later that morning and taken to hospital for injuries to his hand before being arrested. Forensic evidence proved damning – Brooks' blood was found in the conservatory, on the crowbar, and on the handle of the knife used in the attack.
The conviction follows a lengthy legal battle spanning four years, including a mistrial and seven aborted trial dates. Brooks was ultimately found guilty on all charges: two counts of attempted murder, attempted arson with intent to endanger life, and possession of a knife in a public place.
Medical professionals who worked alongside Brooks have expressed their shock and disbelief that someone they trusted with patients' lives could harbor such violent intentions. The case has raised serious questions about professional relationships within the medical community and the potential for hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface of seemingly normal workplace tensions.
Brooks is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3rd, bringing to close a case that has forever changed the lives of everyone involved and left many wondering: how well do we really know our colleagues?
