Cycling surgeon found guilty of attempted murder in shocking midnight knife and fire attack

In a case that has rocked the British medical world, Jonathan Peter Brooks, a once-celebrated plastic surgeon, has been convicted of the attempted murder of a fellow consultant in a chilling act of betrayal. The 61-year-old rode through snow in the dead of night, armed with a kitchen knife and petrol canisters, to launch a brutal attack on Graeme Perks, a renowned reconstructive surgeon.

Wearing camouflage, Brooks crept through the cold darkness in January 2021, cycling more than 15 miles to reach Perks’ family home in Nottinghamshire. He broke in during the early hours, stabbing Perks in the chest and abdomen, then attempting to set the property on fire—all while Perks’ wife and son slept upstairs.

The attack left Perks critically injured, yet miraculously alive. As flames began to spread, the family managed to escape, avoiding what could have easily turned into a mass fatality.

A Nottingham Crown Court jury returned a guilty verdict after 12 hours of deliberation. Brooks, who had chosen to represent himself, was found guilty of attempted murder, arson with intent to endanger life, and possession of a knife. His defence was riddled with bizarre claims and unfounded allegations, which failed to convince the court or garner sympathy.

Rachael Dean of the Crown Prosecution Service described the victim’s survival as “nothing short of miraculous,” crediting Perks’ resilience and the emergency services’ swift response for averting a greater tragedy.

The motive remains murky, but prosecutors argued Brooks’ actions stemmed from a bitter vendetta and professional jealousy. He allegedly harboured deep resentment towards Perks, whom he once worked with at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Details revealed in court painted a portrait of premeditated malice: Brooks had studied Perks’ house layout, deliberately disabled CCTV cameras, and doused curtains in petrol before igniting them. He then fled, leaving behind chaos and devastation.

The case has sent shockwaves through the UK’s healthcare community, highlighting not only the personal nature of professional rivalries but also the chilling extent to which one man allowed them to fester.

As Brooks awaits sentencing, he now faces a lifetime behind bars—his fall from grace as dramatic as his descent into violence. Once a man of precision and healing, he now becomes a cautionary tale of obsession, rage, and a betrayal so dark that even seasoned medics and legal experts are left stunned.