A surgeon who froze his legs so they might require amputation to fulfill a sexual obsession earlier than making practically £500,000 in insurance coverage claims has been jailed.
Neil Hopper, a 49-year-old vascular surgeon, was given 32 months after he pleaded responsible to 2 prices of fraud by false illustration. This associated to claims made to insurance coverage firms that his legs had been amputated due to sepsis quite than self-inflicted harm.
He additionally admitted three prices of possessing excessive pornographic photos regarding movies from a web site known as the EunuchMaker.
Regardless of reassurances from NHS officers, former sufferers of Hopper are actually in search of authorized recommendation over the therapy they obtained from him for concern it was not wanted.
At Truro crown court docket on Thursday, Choose James Adkin heard that Hopper was recognized after investigations into Marius Gustavson who ran the web site. Gustavson was jailed for life with a minimal time period of twenty-two years on the Previous Bailey final yr for main an excessive physique modification ring. It carried out male castration, penis elimination and different procedures on individuals as younger as 16.
Hopper labored for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Belief from 2013 till he was suspended from obligation in March 2023 after his preliminary arrest. He was suspended from the medical register that December and the court docket heard his spouse is in search of a divorce.
The belief has stated the prison prices in opposition to him didn’t relate to his skilled conduct, including “there was no proof to counsel any danger to sufferers”.
Nevertheless, former sufferers – together with some who underwent amputations – have contacted the medical negligence agency, Allow Regulation, with considerations about their therapy.
Hopper dishonestly made a false illustration to Aviva and Previous Mutual Well being that his “legs had been amputated due to sickness quite than self-inflicted harm”, the court docket heard.
In April 2019, he used dry ice to freeze his legs to the extent they have been not viable and required amputation. This had lengthy been an ambition of his and he had a sexual curiosity in it, the court docket was advised.
After the amputation, he made claims to the insurers that resulted in payouts of £466,653.81. He spent the cash on a campervan, a scorching tub, wooden burner and constructing works.
Along with jailing Hopper, the choose made a sexual hurt prevention order for 10 years and set a timetable for a proceeds of crime investigation to get better a few of the funds he fraudulently obtained. The court docket heard Hopper would lose his dwelling.
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The surgeon spoke in 2023 of his amputation in interviews with the BBC and in a documentary with the Welsh language channel, S4C.
The court docket was advised he “loved the eye” the publicity generated and he was shortlisted within the European Area Company’s seek for an astronaut with a incapacity.
The Normal Medical Council positioned restrictions on his follow in April 2023 and he has been suspended from the medical register since December 2023.
After Hopper was charged, a Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Belief spokesperson stated: “The fees don’t relate to Mr Hopper’s skilled conduct and there was no proof to counsel any danger to sufferers. Mr Hopper labored on the Royal Cornwall Hospitals from 2013 till he was suspended from obligation in March 2023, following his preliminary arrest.”
