Featured Image Credit: bionicsurgeon/Instagram
The story of Neil Hopper has taken another wild turn, with courts hearing about the 'dark' message he sent to the owner of an extreme body modification porn website in the aftermath of having his own legs removed.
Charged earlier this year on two counts of fraud by false representation and a third for encouraging or assisting in the commission of grievous bodily harm, Hopper now faces 32 months behind bars after also admitting to three charges of possessing extreme pornographic videos. It's said that Hopper obtained these from the Eunuch Maker website run by Marius Gustavson.
Gustavason is currently serving 22 years in jail, known as the kingpin of a criminal enterprise where he and accomplices performed grisly operations in London flats and hotel rooms. These extreme videos were uploaded to the site and purchased for a fee, with some of the most graphic including castration and penis removal on men as young as 16.
As for Hopper, the court heard how he had a "sexual interest in amputation," with prosecutor Nicholas Lee alleging: "His motivations were a combination of obsession with removing parts of his own body and a sexual interest in doing so."
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The defense attempted to explain Hopper's actions, as Andrew Langdon KC argued that the former vascular surgeon had always felt he was "in the wrong body” and "wanted to be female." Judge James Adkin was told that Hopper identifies with body integrity identity disorder, where sufferers have an intense desire to amputate healthy limbs, but due to Hopper's possession of such graphic pornography, he handed down the sentence. While agreeing that Hopper was remorseful, Adkin stated that the "level of harm" showcased in the three videos of body mutilation that were part of the pornography charges was "exceptionally high."
Hopper had exchanged around 1,500 messages with Gustavson, allegedly including instructions on how to have his legs amputated and how he'd require prescription painkillers – that he eventually bought from the dark web. Lee maintained: "It is evident from the messages that Mr Hopper wished to become an amputee and it was always something he had dreamt of."
Saying, “It’s going to be awesome being a double amputee," Hopper then sent Gustavson a picture of his erect penis.
While his family was away in April 2019, Hopper submerged his legs in dry ice for up to eight hours, and was then admitted to the hospital for suspected sepsis. After being transferred to a different hospital and spending weeks in a hyperbaric chamber, Hopper's legs were eventually amputated below the knee.
In the aftermath, Hopper is said to have sent a chilling message to Gustavson that simply said: "It feels so cool. No feet!"
Hopper's wife now wants a divorce, and he's set to potentially lose his house, with him stating: "My thoughts and behaviour have not have any effect on my job. I worked very hard and always tried my best for my patients."
A spokesperson for the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust concluded: "The charges do not relate to Mr Hopper’s professional conduct and there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients.
“Mr Hopper worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals from 2013 until he was suspended from duty in March 2023, following his initial arrest."
