A renowned vascular surgeon has been jailed after deliberately freezing his own legs to satisfy a sexual obsession, before fraudulently claiming nearly Ksh90 million in insurance payouts.
Neil Hopper, 49, was sentenced to 32 months at Truro Crown Court after pleading guilty to two charges of fraud by false representation and three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images. The court heard that in April 2019, Hopper used dry ice to destroy the tissue in his legs, leading to amputations. He then falsely told insurers Aviva and Old Mutual Health that sepsis was to blame, receiving almost Ksh79.8 million in compensation.
Hopper spent the fraudulent windfall on luxuries including a campervan, hot tub, wood burner, and home renovations. Judge James Adkin also imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered a proceeds of crime investigation to recover stolen funds, warning Hopper that he would likely lose his home.
The case emerged during wider investigations into Marius Gustavson, the man behind the “EunuchMaker” website, who was jailed for life in 2024 for leading a global body modification ring involving illegal castrations and amputations.
Hopper, who had worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust since 2013, was suspended in March 2023 following his arrest. While the trust emphasized that criminal charges were not linked to his clinical practice, former patients including some who underwent amputations have sought legal advice, raising concerns over whether their treatment was necessary.
The disgraced surgeon had previously spoken publicly about his amputation in interviews with the BBC and S4C, where he admitted enjoying the attention. He was even shortlisted in the European Space Agency’s program to recruit an astronaut with a disability.
His professional downfall has been swift. The General Medical Council imposed restrictions on his practice in April 2023, before suspending him entirely in December of that year. His wife is now seeking divorce.
The shocking case highlights the dangerous intersection of extreme sexual fetishes, fraud, and abuse of trust. Hopper’s sentencing sends a strong message that even high-ranking medical professionals are not above the law.
