A former NHS surgeon who deliberately froze his legs to require amputation to satisfy a sexual obsession, then fraudulently claimed nearly £500,000 from insurers, has been jailed for 32 months. Neil Hopper, 49, a vascular surgeon, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at Truro Crown Court on Thursday.
The court heard that Hopper used dry ice in April 2019 to freeze his legs beyond viability, necessitating amputation. He then falsely told insurers Aviva and Old Mutual Health that the amputation was due to sepsis, not self-inflicted injury, resulting in payouts of £466,653.81. He spent the money on a campervan, a hot tub, a wood burner, and building works.
Hopper also admitted three charges of possessing extreme pornographic images from the website EunuchMaker. The case emerged from investigations into Marius Gustavson, who ran the site and was jailed for life for leading an extreme body modification ring. Hopper worked for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust from 2013 until his suspension in March 2023 after his arrest.
Despite the trust stating there was no evidence of risk to patients, former patients have sought legal advice from Enable Law over concerns about their treatment. Judge James Adkin imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and set a timetable for a proceeds of crime investigation to recover some funds. Hopper will lose his home.
Hopper had spoken publicly about his amputation in interviews and a documentary, and was shortlisted for the European Space Agency's astronaut programme for people with disabilities. He has been suspended from the medical register since December 2023, and his wife is seeking a divorce.
