A surgeon from the NHS who had both his legs amputated for sexual gratification has been sentenced to prison after admitting to fraudulent activities. Neil Hopper, a renowned vascular surgeon recognized for his bravery, claimed his legs had to be amputated due to illness while his family was away camping. However, it was later revealed that the 49-year-old intentionally froze his legs using dry ice while his family was out, resulting in the need for amputation.
Hopper, who had performed numerous operations involving amputations, confessed during a trial at Truro Crown Court to inflicting the injuries as part of a depraved sexual fantasy. He pleaded guilty to defrauding insurance companies by falsely representing that his legs were amputated due to illness rather than self-inflicted harm. Additionally, he admitted to possessing extreme pornographic images related to genital mutilation.
The court heard that Hopper used dry ice to freeze his legs to the point of irreparable damage, leading to the amputation. Following a concerned friend’s alert, paramedics found him at home and rushed him to the hospital, where he falsely claimed to be suffering from flu-like symptoms. Subsequently, he made fraudulent claims to insurers amounting to over £466,000.
During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that Hopper engaged with Marius Gustavson, the operator of the EunuchMaker website, known for extreme body modifications. Gustavson, who was convicted for extreme procedures including castration and penis removal, had ties to a subculture involving genital nullification. Hopper had purchased videos from Gustavson’s website and exchanged messages about his desire for amputation.
Hopper has been out of practice at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust since 2023, with restrictions placed on his medical license. The trust clarified that the charges against Hopper were unrelated to his professional conduct, and no risks to patients were identified. Hopper had worked at the trust for a decade before his suspension in 2023.
