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Neil Hopper made false claims to insurance companies, stating that his legs had been amputated due to sepsis.
Neil Hopper worked for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
A surgeon in the UK deliberately amputated his own legs to satisfy a sexual obsession and then claimed nearly £500,000 (around Rs 5 crore) from insurance companies. He was jailed after pleading guilty to fraud and possession of extreme pornography.
According to a report in the BBC, the surgeon, Neil Hopper, 49, worked for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust from 2013 until his suspension in March 2023. He was suspended from the medical register in December 2023.
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Fraudulent Insurance Claims
Hopper was admitted to two charges of fraud by false representation. He made false claims to insurance companies, Aviva and Old Mutual Health, where he stated that his legs had been amputated due to sepsis. But, in April 2019, Hopper used dry ice to freeze his legs until amputation was necessary.
The insurance claims resulted in payouts of £466,653.81 (around Rs 4.85 crore). He spent the money on a campervan, a hot tub, a wood burner and building works, The Guardian reported.
“His motivations were a combination of obsession with removing parts of his own body and a sexual interest in doing so,” prosecutor Nicholas Lee told the Truro Crown Court, where the case was heard, as quoted by the BBC.
Extreme Pornography Offences
Hopper also admitted three charges of possessing extreme pornographic images. The images related to videos from a website called EunuchMaker, where men were willingly having their genitals removed.
Marius Gustavson, who ran the website, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years at the Old Bailey in 2024 for leading an extreme body modification ring.
Hopper purchased three videos from the website for £10 (roughly Rs 1,100) and £35 each (Rs 4,100). The BBC report further mentioned that he also exchanged around 1,500 messages with Gustavson discussing his own leg amputations.
Court Proceedings And Sentencing
Judge James Adkin sentenced Hopper to 32 months in prison. As per the report, the judge said that although Hopper had no previous convictions, the “level of harm” in the pornography videos was “exceptionally high.”
Hopper returned to work in just under six months using prosthetic legs. Prosecutors said he had been tempted by “greed” and messaged a friend saying he should “milk it.” The court was also told that he “enjoyed” the interest from the media.
“It seems to have been a long-standing ambition of his,” Lee said.
Impact On Patients
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust stated that the criminal charges did not relate to Hopper’s professional conduct and that “there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients.”
However, some former patients, including those who underwent amputations, have contacted the medical negligence firm Enable Law for legal advice about their treatment.
Hopper reportedly suffered from body dysphoria since childhood. A lawyer said his feet were “an unwelcome extra” and a “persisting, never-ending discomfort” to him.
In addition to sentencing Hopper to prison, the judge issued a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. The court also set a timetable for a proceeds of crime investigation to recover some of the money he obtained through fraud. It was reported that Hopper would lose his home.
About the Author
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
Delhi, India, India
September 05, 2025, 14:04 IST
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