A guest on This Morning, featured on ITV, who claimed to have lost his legs due to sepsis, has been sentenced to 32 months in jail. Neil Hopper shared his story on the daytime show, alleging that he contracted the life-threatening condition following a family camping trip.
The former surgeon has been convicted of fraud amounting to over £466,000 for intentionally causing the injuries himself. Using dry ice, he froze his legs to the point where amputation was required, as detailed in Truro Crown Court.
Hopper’s motivation behind the act was described as both an ambition and a sexual fascination. Court proceedings revealed his plan to claim £235,622 from one insurer and £231,031 from another.
Additionally, Hopper pleaded guilty to three charges related to possessing extreme pornography. The exposure of his actions occurred during the arrest of “Eunuch Maker” Marius Gustavson, who was sentenced to life imprisonment after self-inflicting severe bodily harm.
Prosecutor Nicholas Lee disclosed that Hopper purchased videos from Gustavson’s website depicting men willingly undergoing genital removal procedures.
Hopper engaged in approximately 1,500 conversations with Gustavson regarding his own leg amputation. It was apparent from the messages that he harbored a deep-seated desire to become an amputee, which he considered a long-standing obsession and a source of sexual gratification.
In his defense, Andrew Langdon KC stated that Hopper struggled with his gender identity from a young age, expressing a desire to be female. Hopper decided to inflict irreversible harm on his legs in April 2019 while staying with family, leading to regrettable consequences in the subsequent days and weeks.
Despite previously attributing his leg condition to sepsis contracted during a camping trip, Hopper later confessed to intentionally causing the damage. Refraining from multiple surgeries, he opted for amputation, a decision he justified as a simpler solution.
Known for his surgical prowess, Hopper was recognized as the “Bravest surgeon in Britain” and was a candidate in the European Space Agency’s search for an astronaut with a disability. However, following his suspension from the medical register in December 2023, he has been barred from practicing medicine as mandated by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust emphasized that the charges against Hopper did not pertain to his professional conduct, assuring the public of no risk to patients. Former patients with concerns about their treatment were encouraged to reach out to the hospital’s Patient Experience team for assistance.
