Surgeon Neil Hopper admits fraud over amputation of own legs

An NHS vascular surgeon who had his own legs removed has admitted two counts of insurance fraud and three of possessing extreme pornography.

Neil Hopper, 49, of Truro, Cornwall, carried out hundreds of amputation operations before having his own legs removed in 2019.

Truro Crown Court heard he lied to insurers by claiming that injuries to his legs were the result of sepsis and not self-inflicted.

It heard that in May 2019 Hopper had below knee amputations after a “mysterious illness”. In fact he had used ice and dry ice to freeze his own legs so they had to be removed, the court heard.

The court heard Hopper had a “sexual interest in amputation”.

Hopper had both legs amputated after complaining that his feet were in pain.

He was treated for suspected sepsis before he was told by surgeons that he should have amputations and he was operated on.

He did not tell the medics the real cause of his injuries, the court heard.

The fraudulent insurance claims from two firms totalled more than £466,000 the court heard.

He was tempted by “greed” the court was told.

He had messaged a friend about the claims saying he should “milk it”.

More than £50,000 of insurance money was sent to his wife, £22,000 on a camper van, another £255,000 on building works and home improvements and a hot tub.

He “enjoyed” the interest from the media in his case, prosecutors told the court.

“His motivations were a combination of obsession with removing parts of his own body and a sexual interest in doing so,” the court was told.

“It seems to have been a long-standing ambition of his,” the court heard.

After the amputations, he was back at work in just under six months with prosthetic legs, the court heard.

He was arrested in March 2023 and has been suspended from the medical register since December 2023.

Andrew Langdon, KC, said in mitigation, that the offences had been a “shock” to friends.

“He [Hopper] has been committed to working to the service of others,” he said.

“The whole saga is very difficult to comprehend.”

Hopper had suffered body dysphoria since childhood and his feet were an “unwelcome extra and a “persisting never-ending discomfort” to him, said Mr Langdon.

Hopper did not regret the operations, but “bitterly regrets” the “dishonesty” about their cause, he said.

After the operations, Hopper had been “totally overwhelmed by support from friends and family which made it even more difficult to tell them what had really happened”.

Hopper, who is originally from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, had been employed by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust from 2013 until he was arrested in March 2023.

After Hopper was charged, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust released a statement.

A spokesperson said: “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 in at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals from 2013 until he was suspended from duty in March 2023, following his initial arrest.”

Additional reporting by Jenny Kumah