Introduction to the Case
A British doctor was sentenced to nearly 2 1/2 years behind bars for insurance fraud after claiming his legs were lost due to sepsis — when he actually forced the amputations for sexual gratification, officials said Thursday.
The Defendant and Charges
Andrew Neil Hopper, a 49-year-old vascular surgeon at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of possession of extreme pornographic images, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
He was sentenced to 32 months in prison by a Truro Crown Court judge and remanded into custody.
Insurance Fraud Details
Hopper "fraudulently claimed over £466,000 (about $630,000) in insurance payouts" after "he claimed the injuries to his limbs were the result of sepsis," prosecutors said.
But in reality, Hopper had been packing his legs in ice and dry ice in an act of self-mutilation, authorities said.
The Motive Behind the Actions
The defendant was a paying customer of a since-shuttered website that "sold videos of amputations and body modification, including penises being removed," CPS said.
“Hopper has a sexual fetish linked to amputation, and paid to access these images for his own gratification," Senior Crown Prosecutor Richard Parkhouse said in a statement.
“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."
Investigation and Evidence
Hopper used PayPal to buy about 44 pounds of dry ice pellets on April 14, 2019, just three days before paramedics found him at home with serious injuries to his feet and legs, officials said.
After the amputations, Hopper cashed in insurance claims of £235,622.14 (about $318,000) and £231,031.67 (about $312,000) from Avia and Old Mutual Wealth without disclosing "that his injuries were self-inflicted," CPS said.
Public Appearance and Career
Hopper was even profiled on ITV’s "This Morning" and BBC’s "Inside Out West" chronicling his courageous fight to return to work after enduring the sepsis-related amputations.
A representative for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust had previously said there’s no evidence that Hopper’s off-work activities had any impact on patients that he treated.
Conclusion
The case of Andrew Neil Hopper is a shocking example of how far individuals may go to fulfill their desires, even if it means causing harm to themselves and deceiving others. It highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the need for honesty in insurance claims.
FAQs
Q: What was the reason behind Andrew Neil Hopper’s insurance claims?
A: Hopper claimed that his legs were lost due to sepsis, but in reality, he had self-inflicted the injuries for sexual gratification.
Q: How much did Hopper fraudulently claim from insurance payouts?
A: Hopper claimed over £466,000 (about $630,000) in insurance payouts.
Q: What was the outcome of Hopper’s case?
A: Hopper was sentenced to 32 months in prison for insurance fraud and possession of extreme pornographic images.
