A former NHS vascular surgeon has been charged with attempting to defraud insurers of nearly half a million pounds by allegedly misrepresenting the cause of his leg amputations, according to multiple news outlets.
Neil Hopper, 49, from Truro in Cornwall, is accused of two counts of fraud by false representation after allegedly claiming that sepsis led to the loss of his legs, when the injuries were self-inflicted. The claims were made in 2019 to two insurance providers, from whom he allegedly sought £235,622 and £231,031 respectively.
The charges follow a two-and-a-half-year investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police. Hopper, who previously worked for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, appeared at Cornwall Magistrates’ Court but did not enter pleas. He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at Truro Crown Court on August 26, the reports said.
According to the charges, the fraudulent claims were linked to a third-party cloud-based CRM system, through which the alleged misrepresentations were submitted to the insurers. The prosecution states that the purpose was to gain financial compensation based on a fabricated medical history.
Hopper also faces a third charge of encouraging or assisting grievous bodily harm. Police allege that between August 2018 and December 2020, he purchased videos depicting the removal of limbs and encouraged another individual, Marius Gustavson, to carry out such procedures on others.
While the allegations extend beyond insurance, Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed that the fraud charges specifically relate to the claimed cause of Hopper’s injuries and his intent to obtain financial gain from two insurance firms, the reports said.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust said it had cooperated with investigators and that the charges do not relate to Hopper’s clinical conduct. He was suspended from duty in March 2023 following his initial arrest.
No insurers involved have been publicly named, and the number of individuals affected by the broader investigation has not been disclosed, according to the reports.
