This Morning guest and former surgeon Neil Hopper has been jailed for 32 months after causing his legs to be amputated in a twisted sexual act after claiming he had sepsis

This Morning guest Neil Hopper has been jailed(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

A This Morning guest, who appeared on the ITV show to claim he lost his legs due to sepsis, has been jailed. Neil Hopper discussed his so-called battle on the daytime programme, where he said he developed the life-threatening illness after a family camping trip.

The former surgeon has now been jailed for 32 months for fraud, totalling more than £466,000 after causing the injuries himself. He used dry ice to freeze his legs to an extent where they needed amputating, Truro Crown Court heard.

The act was Hopper’s ambition and a sexual interest. He had intended to make a £235,622 from one insurer and £231,031 from another, the court heard.

Hopper claimed he lost his legs to sepsis

Hopper also admitted three charges of possessing extreme pornography. The 49-year-old was exposed when police arrested “Eunuch Maker” Marius Gustavson.

Gustavson has been jailed for life. He had his own penis cut off, the tip of his nipple removed and his leg amputated after freezing it.

Prosecutor Nicholas Lee said Hopper bought three videos from Gustavson’s website showing men willingly having their genitals removed.

Hopper spoke of his own leg amputation and how he did it in around 1,500 messages with Gustavson. Mr Lee told the court: “It is evident from the messages that Mr Hopper wished to become an amputee and it was always something he had dreamt of.

“Something he has been obsessed with and had a sexual interest in becoming an amputee.” Defence Andrew Langdon KC told the court Hopper grew up in a rural village in Wales and felt he was “in the wrong body” from a young age.

He said: “He was troubled by his gender, he wanted to be female. In April 2019, Hopper decided to cause “irreversible damage to his legs” when his family were staying with his in laws, the court heard.

Mr Langdon added: “He knows in the days and weeks that followed, he let himself down in the most shameful way.” The barrister told the court Hopper’s wife wanted a divorce.

He made an appearance on This Morning in 2020(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Previously, Hopper had claimed he fell unwell alongside his daughter on a camping trip. He said while his daughter made a recovery, he had sepsis.

Hopper claimed he would have needed operations and skin grafts to save his legs and claimed there was no guarantee it would work

The medic said: “I opted not to have hundreds and hundreds of operations but just to have one to sort it out.” Hopper, who carried out hundreds of amputation operations on others, was branded the “Bravest surgeon in Britain”.

He was shortlisted in the European Space Agency’s search for an astronaut with a disability. Hopper had worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals since March 2023.

He had General Medical Council restrictions in place from April 2023 and has been suspended from the medical register since December 2023.

A spokesperson for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust told the Sun: “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.

“Former patients with any questions or concerns about their treatment can contact the Royal Cornwall Hospitals’ Patient Experience team on 01872 25 2793, or email [email protected].”