Surgeon jailed for self-inflicted amputations and insurance fraud

SURGEON JAILED FOR SELF-INFLICTED AMPUTATIONS AND INSURANCE FRAUD

A vascular surgeon who intentionally rotted his own legs and subsequently claimed more than £466,000 through insurance has been found guilty in what has been described as "the most unique case." Andrew Neil Hopper, 49, from St Erme near Truro, was once a highly regarded surgeon at the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, known for the quality of his work.

However, during a sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court, it was revealed that Hopper plunged his own legs into dry ice and experienced severe pain due to a long-standing sexual fetish for amputations and gender identity issues where he wished to become a woman.

These procedures resulted in his legs being amputated below the knee in 2019.

Upon learning he could claim substantial sums from insurance policies purchased years earlier, Hopper made two fraudulent claims using his expertise as a doctor to deceive insurers, though the injuries were self-inflicted for sexual gratification.

Hopper pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by making a false representation, claiming that his injuries were caused by sepsis and not self-inflicted, aiming to gain £235,622 from one insurer and £231,031 from another.

He was also convicted of three counts of possession of extreme pornography related to videos from a website called The EunuchMaker, which depicted limb removal and involved encouraging another person to remove body parts.

Hopper was sentenced to 32 months in prison and a sexual prevention order was imposed for ten years.