A vascular surgeon who deliberately froze his own legs to trigger amputations before claiming nearly £500,000 in insurance payouts has been jailed.
Neil Hopper, 49, was sentenced to 32 months at Truro Crown Court after admitting two charges of fraud by false representation. He told insurers his amputations were caused by sepsis, concealing that they were self-inflicted using dry ice. He also pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing extreme pornographic material linked to a website called EunuchMaker.
Insurance fraud and payouts
Hopper dishonestly claimed £466,653.81 from Aviva and Old Mutual Health under policies covering illness and disability. According to a report from The Guardian, the payouts funded a campervan, hot tub, wood burner and home renovations.
Judge James Adkin ordered a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and set a timetable for a proceeds of crime investigation to recover the funds. Hopper now faces the loss of his home.
The case highlighted the challenges insurers face in detecting sophisticated fraud, particularly when claimants are medical professionals whose claims may appear credible. Analysts said it underlines the importance of rigorous claims assessment and cross-checking of medical evidence, especially in high-value health and disability policies.
Hopper, who worked at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust until his suspension in 2023, has also prompted concern among former patients, some of whom are now seeking legal advice. While the trust said there is no evidence to suggest any risk to patients, medical negligence firm Enable Law confirmed it has been contacted by several individuals questioning whether their treatments were necessary.
The surgeon was identified during investigations into Marius Gustavson, who was jailed for life in 2023 for running an extreme body modification network involving castrations and amputations.
Publicity and fallout
Despite his suspension from the medical register, Hopper spoke publicly about his amputations in 2023, including in a BBC interview and a documentary with Welsh-language channel S4C. The court was told he “enjoyed the attention” and was even shortlisted in the European Space Agency’s search for an astronaut with a disability.
His wife has since begun divorce proceedings, and he has remained suspended from the medical register since December 2023.
