A shocking case has unfolded in the UK as a British doctor has been sentenced to two years in prison for insurance fraud after amputating his own legs as part of a disturbing fetish. Andrew Neil Hopper, a 48-year-old vascular surgeon at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, was convicted after claiming he lost both of his legs due to sepsis, but was later found to have self-inflicted the injuries.
The Shocking Case of Andrew Neil Hopper
Andrew Neil Hopper, once a respected vascular surgeon, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of possession of extreme pornographic images, according to CBS News. A judge at Truro Crown Court handed down a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, and Hopper was immediately remanded into custody. His actions shocked not only his patients and peers but also the general public, given his prominent role in the medical field.
Hopper reportedly claimed about £466,000 ($630,000) in insurance payouts after stating his double leg amputations resulted from a sepsis diagnosis. However, evidence later revealed that he had placed his legs in ice and dry ice over a long period, ultimately causing self-mutilation. This disturbing detail highlighted the extent of his fetish, which investigators linked to online communities dedicated to amputation and body modification content.
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Insurance Fraud and Online Fetish Community
Investigators uncovered that Hopper was a regular customer of a now-defunct website that specialized in videos of amputation and body modification. Communications between Hopper and the site’s owner revealed that his injuries were not the result of illness but deliberate self-inflicted harm. Despite knowing this, Hopper submitted multiple fraudulent insurance claims, defrauding companies out of nearly half a million pounds.
“In his communications with the owner of the website, the truth about Hopper’s own injuries was revealed: that the damage that led to his double leg amputations had been self-inflicted. Hopper failed to disclose this fact when making two insurance claims for his injuries, and fraudulently pocketed almost half a million pounds,” the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement.
Further investigation revealed that Hopper purchased dry ice pellets in April 2019 using his PayPal account, just days before paramedics were called to his home, where they found severe injuries to his legs and feet. These purchases were crucial evidence that helped unravel the truth behind his claims.