Inside the disturbing mind of the doctor who chopped his own legs off for pleasure

NHS surgeon Neil Hopper, 49, has been convicted on counts of insurance fraud and possessing 'extreme pornography' after having his own limbs amputated for 'sexual gratification' Surgeon Neil Hopper (Image: PA)

The disturbing case of Neil Hopper, the “hero” TV surgeon who had his own legs amputated because of an illness known as body integrity disorder, has cast new light on the dark illness. ‌

Hopper, 49, had claimed hundreds of thousands in insurance after telling brokers he lost the limbs to sepsis. He revealed to a court that he felt, “he was in the wrong body.” He has been accused of receiving “sexual gratification” from the amputations, which he self-inflicted using dry ice. ‌

Andrew Langdon KC, Hopper’s defence barrister, told the court: “He suffered from body int