BA(Hons), MSc, PhD, MAE, MEWI, FBPsS, FAcSS, CPsychol, C.Sci, EuroPsy; is a Consultant Forensic and Clinical Psychologist and Partner at Forensic Psychology Practice Ltd. He is a Professor, Visiting Chair of the School of Psychology at the University of Lincoln, a Visiting Professor of Forensic Clinical Psychology at Birmingham City University, and an Hon. Professor of Forensic Psychology at the Centre for Applied Psychology at the University of Birmingham. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, a Fellow of The Academy of Social Sciences, a Full Member of the Academy of Experts and the Expert Witness Institute, and has been awarded the title of registered EuroPsy Psychologist, qualified to practice throughout the European Union. He is a Registered and Chartered Psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS), a Chartered Scientist and former member of the BPS Board of Examiners in Forensic Psychology.  In 2013, he was awarded the Senior Academic Award by the Division of Forensic Psychology for distinguished contribution to academic knowledge in forensic psychology.  In the same year he was appointed Fellow of The British Psychological Society for distinguished contribution in psychology.

He was previously Consultant to North Birmingham Mental Health Trust (inpatient forensic psychiatric services – All Saints Hospital, Highcroft Hospital, Endeavour Court Hospital), Northern Derbyshire NHS Trust – Intensive Support Learning Disability Service, and South Birmingham Community Forensic Learning Disability Services. For 5 years he was a Consultant Lead to three community hospitals people with intellectual disabilities, personality disorders and forensic challenging behaviours. In this position he was responsible for three psychology departments and the assessment and treatment delivery to detained patients.  He has been contracted by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, HM Prison and Probation Service, several Probation Regions (West Mercia, Derbyshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire), Catholic and Church of England Diocese, South African Police Service and the United States Air Force in assessing violent and sexual offenders.

He has over 24 years’ experience in conducting psychological reports for courts in criminal and child care proceedings; completing over 1000+ court reports assessing sexual and violent offenders, parents other carers and children in care proceedings (with an age range between 6 to 16 years for psychometric assessment and clinical interview), and observation of contact with an age range from 8 months to late adolescence.

He has specialist interest in the treatment, management and risk assessment of violent and/or sexual offenders and has 120+ publications including 12 books.  He has given oral testimony in Magistrates, Crown and County Courts, Mental Health Review Tribunals, Parole Board hearings and US Military Court Martials.  In 2015 he co-authored a Ministry of Justice research funded report into the use of expert witnesses in family law and in 2016 he was appointed as Chair of the British Psychological Society, Expert Witness Advisory Group.   He has co-authored the 2017 and 2021 BPS guidance for psychologists expert witnesses and the 2022 joint BPS and Family Justice Council guidance for psychologists in family law.  His research interests include sexual and violent offenders, personality disorder and forensic risk assessment and the use of expert witnesses in civil and criminal courts.