OPUS Medico Legal
Dr Mike Drayton
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
I have a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Birmingham and a first degree in Social Psychology from The London School of Economics (University of London).
I prepare expert reports that actually answer the questions in the letter of instruction, and that provide a firm opinion and realistic recommendations. My reports are written in plain English for an educated legal audience (not for other psychologists).
I am very experienced at giving evidence in court. A judge once commented what a pleasure it was to have a one-handed expert giving evidence. When I gave her a puzzled look, she said that she gets fed up of experts who say, “on the one hand…but on the other hand…”
I have been instructed as an expert witness for over twenty years, and have also completed the two-year Cardiff University Law School/Bond Solon Expert Witness training (CUEW). I have had experience in the Family, Employment and Criminal Courts. I have prepared reports for Claimants and Defendants, in clinical negligence, personal injury and employment matters.
My clinical interest is in how personality, early trauma and intellectual impairment effect how people function in families and organisations. When I worked in the NHS, I worked with people with personality disorders.
“I reject the suggestion that Dr Drayton and/or Professor Wilcox were other than properly qualified experts. I also reject any suggestion that they have acted in any way improperly in their role as experts in this case. Dr Martindale's suggestions to the contrary are in my view illustrative of her loss
of objectivity and her belief that anyone who potentially undermines her claim in this
litigation is acting improperly to thwart her...
I prefer the views of both Dr Denman and Dr Drayton that it was not negligent...
I certainly prefer the evidence of Dr Drayton on this point...I find no breach of duty..."
His Honour Judge Godsmark QC
Dr Victoria Martindale - and - Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Case No: C37YM961
IN THE COUNTY COURT AT NOTTINGHAM
Date: 27.08.2019
“This [psychological assessment] had been carried out, on joint instructions, by Dr. Michael Drayton, a consultant clinical psychologist, whose report is dated 26 October 2006. Dr Drayton
also gave evidence to the judge.
In my judgment, his report is an impressive piece of work. The thoroughness of Dr. Drayton's work is demonstrated, in my judgment, not just by the length of his report and the detail which it contains, but also by the range of issues which he discussed with those whom he was assessing. Thus, in the report on the mother, in addition to undertaking psychometric testing and reporting on the results, Dr Drayton reports on the detailed discussion he had with her about the relationships
he had with the fathers of her children.
There are also headings dealing with domestic violence; contraception; the mother's understanding of the reasons for SA being taken into care; her history of self-harming and overdosing; her understanding of her parenting difficulties; her attitude to social services; her experience of a previous, non-residential assessment; her perception of SA's needs; her perception of her own need for therapy; her experience of sexual abuse; her personal history, including her childhood and education; her history of employment and drug abuse; and her mental state”.
L (A Child) and H (A Child) [2007] EWCA Civ 213. Case No: B4/2007/0335
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE, COURT OF APPEAL (CIVIL DIVISION) Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL.
Date: 14/03/2007
“Dr Drayton’s report was measured and considered, as was his evidence in the witness box”
Magistrate’s summing up, Wolverhampton County December 2004.