12 hours ago
Burns specialist who tried to set fire to colleague's home is sentenced
Peter Brooks, a 61-year-old burns specialist, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years for attempting to murder his colleague, Graeme Perks, and set fire to his home in Halam, Nottinghamshire.
Brooks attacked Perks at his home in January 2021, stabbing him and dousing the property in petrol; Perks, who had provided evidence in disciplinary proceedings against Brooks, suffered life-threatening injuries.
The prosecution argued that Brooks hated Perks and wanted him "out of the way," while the defence claimed the attack was a "single act of violence" with no extensive pre-planning.
Perks described the attack as an "unimaginable catastrophe" for his family but expressed no hatred towards Brooks, while his son, Henry Perks, called Brooks a "highly dangerous and remorseless individual."
Brooks, who was voluntarily absent from his trial due to a hunger strike, did not attend the sentencing hearing; the judge described his crimes as "appalling" and noted his history of using hunger strikes to manipulate the legal process.
