Dr Stephen Warnes COOKE BVSc, MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon, Expert Witness and forensic pathologist specialising in small pet animals, exotic
and wildlife species
Academic Qualifications:- Bachelor of Veterinary Science, Bristol University, 1981
Professional Qualifications & Memberships:Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Member of the British Veterinary Association
Member of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association
Member of the British Veterinary Forensic and Law Association
Member of the Association of Lawyers for Animal Welfare
Member of the Animal Welfare Science, Ethics & Law Veterinary Association
Member of the Veterinary Defence Society
Official Veterinarian (OV) on behalf of Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(DEFRA) – Official Controls Qualifications; OCQ(V) - CA (companion animals) OCQ(V) –
AX (avian exports) OCQ(V) – SX (small animals) OCQ(V) – EX (exports general) OCQ(V) –
ES (essential skills)
NAVC Certificates of Completion Veterinary Forensic Science and Medicine (parts 1,2 & 3)
Areas of Expertise:
Dr Cooke takes instructions from solicitors, individuals and animal welfare officers and regularly
develops cases in his capacity as a Veterinary Expert Witness. Cases range from basic clinical
examination of living animals, forming opinions based on the laboratory results of third party post
mortem examinations to performing and presenting the results of his own post mortem examinations
with their attendant ancillary tests and procedures (such as radiography, histopathology and
bacteriology).
He is also confident at testing the veracity of other Expert's opinions and has access to an extensive
library of relevant source reference material. He regularly accepts cases involving professional
negligence and misconduct.
His Expert Witness Statements are compliant with current CPR part 35 and CrimPR part 33 guidelines.
He is confident at presenting his evidence in Court both as a material and Expert Witness and acts on
behalf of the Defence or Prosecution and as a SJE.
Dr Cooke remains current in general small animal and exotic veterinary practice by working 3 days a
week in a busy first opinion surgery (Cufa's Lea Veterinary Centre, Oxford) performing first and
referral consultations and surgery.
Employment History
2014 – present - Veterinary Advisors Ltd, Wallingford. Managing Director and Senior veterinary
surgeon. Dr Cooke provides the following services to veterinary surgeons, the legal
profession,individuals, animal welfare groups and commercial enterprises:- Veterinary Expert
Witness services for prosecution, defence or as Joint Single Expert. Forensic standard post
mortem examinations for legal cases. Clinical post mortems – for members of the public and
veterinarians who wish to find out the cause of death of their pets or patients. Specialist advice
to professionals regarding veterinary matters within his sphere of expertise including lecturing.
Novel clinical pathology tests and procedures for pet, exotic and wildlife diagnostics where
the test may not be offered in this country.
2002 – 2014 Kelperland Veterinary Centre, Maidenhead. Owner and senior veterinary surgeon.
After buying the practice back from Veterinary Practice Initiatives Ltd his duties continued to
provide veterinary care both during consultations and in the operating theatre for small animal
pets, small exotic pet species and wildlife casualties as well as training junior veterinary
surgeons and nurses and developing the practice. The practice was sold in May 2014 to another
veterinary surgeon.
1999 – 2002 Greendale Diagnostic Laboratories Ltd, Guildford (Full time appointment) Senior
veterinary surgeon and pathologist. Duties were an extension and development of the parttime post, as above and became full time as his recovery from surgery continued.
1995 – 1999 Greendale Diagnostic Laboratory Ltd., (part time Contract). Veterinary consultant
and pathologist. Duties included carrying out diagnostic pathology tests ranging from
cytology, haematology and post mortem examination for the veterinary surgeon and
commercial clients of the laboratory. Dr Cooke also instigated and developed the Exotic and
Zoological Animal Pathology Department within the laboratory, again supplying diagnostic
facilities to clients. He was also involved was the training of and consultation with
professionals in the field of veterinary diagnostic procedures and techniques with a special
emphasis on test selection and interpretation. Duties were part-time due to restrictions
imposed by work load and health.
1989 – 1998 Kelperland Veterinary Centre, Maidenhead. Owner and senior veterinary surgeon.
Duties included providing veterinary care both during consultations and in the operating
theatre for small animal pets, small exotic pet species and wildlife casualties as well as training
junior veterinary surgeons and nurses and developing the practice. Part of the development of the
practice was the formation of a specialist facility with its own dedicated
veterinary specialist,
for the even more exotic kept animals; fish, reptiles, amphibians and
insect species. The practice
was sold to Veterinary Practice Initiatives Ltd July 1998 due to Mr
Cooke requiring open heart
surgery.
1985 – 1989 Cygnus Research Ltd, Ascot Senior veterinary surgeon and pathologist and Managing
Director. Built a successful diagnostic laboratory from scratch providing clinical pathology
diagnostic support to local veterinary surgeons and stud farms. Routine diagnostic tests
performed were haematology, biochemistry, bacteriology, parasitology, post mortem
examinations and the interpretation of results thus generated with due consideration to relevant
clinical information.
1982 – 1985 Forest House Veterinary Hospital, Windsor Assistant veterinary surgeon. Duties
included providing veterinary care both during consultations and in the operating theatre for
small animal pets as well as visits to farms and other premises to diagnose and treat conditions
affecting farm animal species and horses.
1981 – 1982 Kelperland Veterinary Centre, Maidenhead Assistant veterinary surgeon. Duties
included providing veterinary care both during consultations and in the operating theatre for
small animal pets as well as training nurses and developing the practice.
Research
From 1981 to 1990 Mr Cooke researched and developed the only treatment for lead poisoning
in the British Mute Swan. Together with his wife and a group of volunteers he set up the Save
Our Swans charity which then became Swan Lifeline. During those years many thousands of
swans were treated and a large proportion returned to the wild. Other activities involved
research into the effect of fisherman's lead shot as a cause of the poisoning and the ban, through
a Private Members Bill, of the lead shot identified as being responsible for this condition. Much of
his work involved laboratory analysis of pathology samples collected from
sick birds and from
post mortem examination of dead individuals. Again many thousands of
tests were performed
by Mr Cooke and used to fine tune treatments and prognoses for the
birds in his care. Clinical, inpractice, investigations carried out by Mr Cooke have included those into the pathology and
treatment of feline hyperthyroidism, the treatment of sarcoma tumours with novel (c-KIT
inhibitors) therapies, the development of a new surgical treatment
for canine anterior cruciate
ligament rupture and an ongoing assessment of diagnostic tests and
procedures available to ferret
owners.
Additional Information:
Personal professional indemnity insurance. Clean driver’s license. Firearms certificate holder