Stabbed plastic surgeon 'mistook intruder for son'

A court heard Graeme Perks had retired shortly before he was attacked in his home

A plastic surgeon who was stabbed at his home said he initially mistook an intruder for his son.

Graeme Perks was found injured by his son downstairs at their house in Halam, near Southwell in Nottinghamshire, in the early hours of 14 January 2021.

The father of four - who had finished work in November 2020 and officially retired days before the attack - told police in an interview he had limited recollections of the events after receiving a blow to the abdomen.

Jonathan Peter Brooks, his former colleague, is on trial at a court in Loughborough after denying attempted murder.

'Totally confused'

The jury was shown a recording of a police interview with Mr Perks, which took place on 24 February 2021, shortly after he had been released from hospital.

He told officers he had been woken by "a loud bang", and went downstairs to investigate.

"To [hear] a noise like that signified that something seriously untoward was going on," he said.

Mr Perks told police he could remember seeing "a huge hole" in the conservatory door, and then saw a figure outside in the garden dressed in dark clothing.

He said he initially thought the person was his youngest son Henry, who was staying with him and his wife.

"I was totally confused as to what was going on," he said. "The thought occurred to me that, for whatever reason, my son was having a breakdown."

Mr Perks said he approached the figure, who then stabbed him.

"Nothing was said, and the next thing I remember was feeling a blow to my body," he said.

"I put my hands to the area where I felt it, [and] it was wet and sticky.

"I thought I felt something poking out from my abdomen."

After being stabbed, Mr Perks said he went back to the house "as I knew I was in serious trouble", but could not remember being treated, or where the intruder went afterwards.

Jonathan Peter Brooks is on trial accused of attempted murder

In a police interview that took place on the day of the attack, Beverley Perks said she got up after her husband "leapt out of bed", and followed him downstairs "shortly afterwards".

After seeing and smelling petrol she said she believed there was a fire, then saw her husband emerge from the drawing room opposite the staircase.

"He said 'I've been stabbed, call an ambulance'," she said.

"He was white, pale, [he had] lost colour."

Henry Perks, who was also interviewed the same day, said he was woken after "hearing a commotion downstairs", and as he could hear his mother's "muffled" voice he rose to investigate.

"I thought it was really strange," he said.

"As I got closer I could hear her shouting 'oh my God, oh my God' repeatedly."

When he noticed jerry cans that were not theirs, Henry told police he realised there had been a break-in, and so went to the kitchen to get two knives for "self-defence" in case the intruder was still present.

Soon after leaving the kitchen, he saw his father emerge from the room.

'Strong petrol smell'

"He just said 'I've been stabbed'," he said.

"My mother is screaming at this point. He [said] 'call an ambulance', and then he collapsed."

The court also heard statements made by police and ambulance crews responding to calls, which came in at about 04:15 GMT on 14 January.

One police officer reported seeing broken glass around the conservatory door and "a strong smell of petrol" on entering the property.

Mr Perks said he was in intensive care for eight days, and spent further weeks in hospital for rehabilitation, during which he was fed with a tube so his digestive system could recover from the injuries.

Dr Brooks, 61, has denied two counts of attempted murder, one count of attempted arson with intent to endanger life, and one count of possession of a bladed article.

The trial continues.