Surgeon who appeared on TV is charged with ‘lying about losing his legs to sepsis and encouraging Eunuch Maker to amputate body parts’

A surgeon has appeared in court after being accused of lying about losing his legs to sepsis for a £466,000 insurance claim. 

Neil Hopper, 49, did not enter any pleas to the two charges of fraud during the 40-minute hearing at Bodmin magistrates’ court today and spoke only to confirm his name, age, and address.

The father is also accused of encouraging ‘Eunuch Maker’ Marius Gustavson to amputate body parts.

Mr Hopper, who won a Brave Briton award, allegedly told Aviva Group between June 3, 2019 and July 20, 2019 the injuries to his legs were not self-inflicted in order to make a £235,622 claim. 

He is also accused of making the same insurance claim between the same dates to Old Mutual for £231,031. 

Mr Hopper, a vascular surgeon from Truro, was remanded in custody and is next due to appear at Truro Crown Court on August 26.  

He previously appeared on This Morning in 2020 where he claimed he developed sepsis after becoming unwell during a family camping trip in 2019. 

He told the BBC in 2023: ‘My life is more interesting because of what’s happened to me.’   

Neil Hopper, 49, is due before Cornwall Magistrates’ Court in Bodmin on Wednesday accused of two counts of fraud and a charge of encouraging or assisting grievous bodily harm

Hopper appeared on This Morning in 2020 where he claimed he developed sepsis after becoming unwell during a family camping trip in 2019

Hopper is pictured here learning how to walk again after he had both of his legs amputated

Hopper is also alleged to have bought videos from The EunuchMaker website between August 21, 2018 and December 4, 2020 showing the removal of limbs, which ‘encouraged Marius Gustavson to remove body parts of third parties’.

Gustavson, from Norway, had his own penis cut off, a nipple removed and his leg frozen so it had to be amputated.

Hopper had been employed by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust from 2013 until he was arrested in March 2023.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service’s interim orders tribunal placed restrictions on his practice the following month while the General Medical Council investigated, and he has been suspended from the medical register since December 2023.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokeswoman said: ‘The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, where Mr Hopper has been employed, has worked closely with Devon and Cornwall Police throughout the investigation.’

A hospital trust spokesman added: ‘The charges do not relate to Mr Hopper’s professional conduct and there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients.

 Hopper is accused of dishonestly making a false representation to insurers claiming that his leg injuries were the ‘result of sepsis and were not self-inflicted’

Hopper has not worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust since March 2023

Mr Hopper is also accused of encouraging ‘Eunuch Maker’ Marius Gustavson (pictured) to amputate body parts

‘Mr Hopper worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals from 2013 until he was suspended from duty in March 2023, following his initial arrest.

‘Former patients with any questions or concerns about their treatment can contact the Royal Cornwall Hospitals’ patient experience team.’

Hopper was in 2020 named one of the bravest people in Britain.

He received the Against All Odds title at the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons 2020, in a virtual ceremony hosted by BBC1 TV Breakfast presenter Rachel Burden.