Latest Offenders

Description

A Brighton man who repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted two young girls and a boy has been jailed for 16 years.

Daniel Ellett, 35, of Bolney Road in Brighton, abused his three victims over several years up until 2020.

All three were known to him, and aged between six and 13 years old at the time of the offending.

An investigation was launched in January, 2021 and Ellett was arrested while his victims were supported by specialist officers.

He was subsequently charged with two counts of rape against a boy under 13, two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl 13 to 15, and one count each of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15, engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy 13 to 15, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, indecent assault on a girl and exposure.

At Brighton Crown Court on Wednesday, 2 July, he was found guilty of all charges.

At Lewes Crown Court on Thursday (4 September), Ellett was sentenced to a total of 19 years, comprising 16 years in custody with another three to be spent on extended licence.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order against his victims and will be a registered sex offender for life.

Detective Constable Angela Harvey said:

“Daniel Ellett subjected his young victims to the most appalling ordeals for his own sick gratification.

“Some have been forced to live with the trauma into adulthood, and all will carry the impacts of Ellett’s crimes for the rest of their lives.

“I would like to thank all of them for supporting this investigation and helping to put a dangerous offender behind bars."

Description

A man has been jailed after he raped a woman in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Marin Covaci, 37, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, picked up the survivor in Kidsgrove in December 2023. He told her he would drive her home.

When she got in, he drove to a layby, locked the car, and raped her.

After it happened, the survivor bravely told someone about the incident. We started investigating after receiving the report and arrested Covaci the next day.

He was charged with rape of a woman and causing a female to engage in sexual activity. He denied the offences in court.

Through the sheer bravery of the survivor and the evidence we’ve gathered during the investigation, the jury found Covaci guilty on both counts at an earlier hearing. He was jailed for six years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday (4 September), given an indefinite restraining order against the survivor and put on the Sex Offender’s register indefinitely.

Sergeant Lisa Bettany, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit, said:

“The offender in this case targeted this woman in a calculated attack.

“The survivor has shown tremendous courage in coming forward and supporting this investigation, which has ultimately led to a dangerous sex offender being locked up and punished for his crimes.”

Description

A rapist who continued to sexually assault a woman after she told him to stop has been jailed.

Daniel Wyatt, 28, initially engaged in consensual sexual activity with his victim but then ignored her pleas to stop.

The council worker eventually ceased but branded his victim "boring," Teesside Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said the first assault took place about 12 hours before the second incident occurred.

He added that the victim felt pain and screamed when Wyatt sexually assaulted her, and that Wyatt apologised for the act.

Wyatt, of Myrtle Road in Eaglescliffe, denied the offences but was convicted of rape and two counts of sexual assault by a jury earlier this week.

Erin Kitson-Parker, in mitigation, told the court that when she spoke to Wyatt before the hearing, he told her: "I made the biggest mistake of my life."

Judge Tom Mitchell sentenced the rapist to six and a half years in prison.

He said:

"When she told you to stop, you failed to do so. You didn't stop and that makes you a rapist. You sexually assaulted her twice. It was a mean thing to do. A very wrong thing to do. You knew that straight away because you apologised for it."

Wyatt was also required to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life and was made subject to a restraining order.

Description

A 43-year-old man from Southampton has been jailed for ten years for two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.

Shane Allen, of Graham Street, who was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday 3 July, was sentenced at the same court on Tuesday (2 September).

The offences, for which he has been imprisoned, took place in Hythe between Saturday 13 November 2021 and Saturday 16 July 2022.

The victim was six years of age at the time of the incidents.

As well as the time he will now spend behind bars, Allen has also been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restraining order and notification of requirement to register with the police, in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act (2003)

Trainee Detective Constable Elliot Thorne, of the Child Abuse Investigation Team (West), said:

“I am pleased for the young victim in this case that justice has now been served for them and their family, and that Allen has now been placed behind bars for a significant period of time.

“I’d like to place on record my praise and admiration for the very young victim in this case and the courage and determination they have shown throughout, supported by their family.

“Additionally, I’d like thank everyone who has been involved in this case, helping to secure this outcome. Their support and hard work during the investigation has ensured a dangerous man is now locked away and no longer able to harm any other child.

“While I know this result won’t rid the victim and their family of the memories of what Allen did, I truly hope it allows them to move forward, safe in the knowledge that he has now been punished for his crimes and can no longer repeat his offending.’

Directly addressing other victims of sex offences, Trainee DC Thorne, said:

“I really hope this sentence will reassure victims, both children and adults, that they will be listened to when reporting similar incidents to us.

“We encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and work hard to bring offenders to justice, as this case hopefully again evidences.

“This case should also be a very clear message to other offenders out there that we will always work tirelessly to ensure you are brought to justice for your crimes.”

Description

A man who groomed and sexually abused a vulnerable young girl over a prolonged period has been sentenced to sixteen-and-a-half-years in prison today (Friday, 5 September 2025) at Manchester Crown Court following a complex investigation.

Junedh Ahmed (11/6/1999) of Shield Close, Oldham Manchester was found guilty of 14 offences including rape of a child under the age of 13, taking incident photographs of a child, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity following a three-week trial, which concluded on 26th July 2025 with Ahmed being remanded into custody.

Ahmed must sign the sex offender registry for life and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years. He is also subject to an indefinite restraining order.

Our investigation into Ahmed began when the victim bravely disclosed the abuse to officers at Central Park Police Station. Detectives from our complex safeguarding team launched a detailed investigation, which uncovered a disturbing pattern of grooming, coercion, and sexual violence.

As part of sentencing proceedings, the girl bravely prepared a personal impact statement which was read aloud the court and included these words:

“Jay Ahmed made me lose pieces of my childhood I can never get back.

“There were times I felt like I was drowning in silence — too scared to speak, too ashamed to ask for help.

She continued to say: “It’s taken a lot of strength just to speak these words. But I’m speaking to them because I need the court — and the world — to understand what this kind of harm does.”

Her mother also provided an impact statement, which read:

“I have watched my daughter battle pain and confusion no child should ever know.

As her mother, I have fought every day to remind her she is not broken; she is strong, she is loved, and this was never her fault.

Jay Ahmed betrayed our trust, damaged a young girl's life, and many other young girls and shook our family to the core.”

A second girl was also identified as a victim in the case and in relation to her, Ahmed was found guilty of inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Investigators conducted a thorough digital analysis reviewing social media data, search history, and mobile phone downloads to build a strong evidential package.

This investigative work was conducted despite Ahmed refusing to provide the PIN code for his mobile phones. As such, he was convicted of a criminal offence under section 53 of RIPA for failing to comply with our investigation by preventing police from reviewing the data contained on his devices.

Through our investigation, we determined that offences took place between December 2020 and February 2022, during which time Ahmed gained the trust of the victim’s family and used his position to obtain unsupervised access to the child.

Ahmed proceeded to groom the girl with gifts, alcohol, and emotional manipulation, before subjecting her to repeated sexual abuse and recorded several instances on his mobile device.

Ahmed was arrested in February 2022 and again in August 2022. Cowardly, he gave no comment in both police interviews and pleaded not guilty to the charges he faced.

After a jury was presented with a package of evidence, they found Ahmed guilty

Detective Constable Emma Davidson, who led the investigation, said:

“Ahmed led a calculated and sustained campaign of abuse against a young girl. The courage she has shown — not only in coming forward to report what happened, but in going through the difficult process of a trial — has been extraordinary.

“Her strength has helped bring a dangerous offender to justice, and we hope this outcome brings her some measure of healing.

“Our complex safeguarding team was pivotal throughout this case and built strong relationships with the victims and their families throughout the investigation, as well as provided access to tailored support.

“Having co-located multiagency teams are central to our proactive approach to protecting children and preventing further harm.”

Description

A predator who sexually abused two girls has been jailed.

Prosecutor Hillary Roberts said Rocco Malnati, 51, of Blaenavon Road in Govilon, “had a dark side to him” which led to him “committing a variety of sexual acts” against two victims between 2004 and 2010.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Malnati bought the first victim “treats” including alcohol and cigarettes. Mr Roberts said the defendant abused her by performing oral sex, “repeated acts of penial penetration,” making her expose her breasts while he masturbated, and assaulting her in his car in a lay-by.

The victim said she became aware she was being taken advantage of but “didn’t know any way out of it,” Mr Roberts added.

The prosecution said Malnati masturbated in front of the second victim when she was 11 and either topless or naked, and engaged in penetrative sexual abuse when she was a teenager. She said that when she confronted him and threatened to report him, he said he would kill himself.

The offences emerged in 2022 when one victim’s partner found sexual photos of her on her phone that Malnati had her send him.

Malnati was arrested and admitted sexual contact with the victims in interview, but claimed it was after they turned 16. He denied the offences, and a trial scheduled for September last year was delayed until July this year.

Ahead of trial, he pleaded guilty to five offences of sexual activity with a child for the first victim, and engaging in a sexual act in the presence of a child and sexual activity with a child for the second.

In a statement, one victim said Malnati “took my innocence at a very young age” and “used me as a piece of meat to satisfy his deviant sexual desires.” “I will never get my childhood back,” she said. “I never feel safe. I’m always looking over my shoulder for potential threats.”

Jeffrey Jones, in mitigation, said this was Malnati’s first custody experience as he had never troubled the courts before. “He [is] a man of hitherto clean character,” he said. Mr Jones noted Malnati had engaged with probation services, done charity work, and cared for two family members, showing “a positive side” to him.

“It’s clear to everyone that’s heard [the victims’ statements] that both have been significantly traumatised and deeply affected by your actions,” said Recorder Paul Lewis KC. “No sentence I can pass can undo the harm you have caused.”

Recorder Lewis sentenced Malnati to 14 years and 10 months, comprising 12 years and 10 months in custody and two years extended licence. He must register as a sex offender for life and was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. Both victims received lifelong restraining orders against him.

“I want to recognise the courage [the victims] have shown in the investigation and today,” Recorder Lewis said.

Description

A man has been jailed for counts of rape, assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour following investigations by our detectives in the Criminal Investigation Department.  

Two women courageously came forward to report instances of rape, physical violence and controlling behaviour that they endured at the hands of this man. The perpetrator was physically aggressive and forceful over a long period of time with the one victim and caused significant psychological damage.   

Luke Cartwright (09/12/2002) of Balmoral Drive, Denton, has been sentenced after a trial at Bolton Crown Court to 15 years for seven sexual offences, including rape and coercive control against two women. He was initially arrested in February 2024 after reports were made that he abused and sexually assaulted a woman on multiple occasions from May 2022 to 2023.  

The victim bravely gave testimony in court about two separate incidents in which the perpetrator raped her in her sleep, and another where he forced himself on her, abused her and physically pinned her to the bed and wardrobe.  

Whilst enduring both physical and verbal abuse, the victim also recounts times at which Cartwright behaved in a controlling manner, such as checking through her phone every night, constantly checking her whereabouts, and hitting her in retaliation during arguments regarding his behaviour.  

In July 2024, a second woman came forward against the same perpetrator, reporting that Cartwright had raped her in her friend’s bedroom where she was staying to help with childcare. Her friend’s partner had let Cartwright into the house and the two men spent the night drinking. They later went upstairs to sleep, and Cartwright found the victim.  

She slept on a mattress beside her friends’ bed, along with their son, where Cartwright, who was heavily intoxicated, lay with her, forcefully assaulted her and raped her. Upon telling her friends what he had done, officers were called and arrested him at the scene, and CSI were able to forensically recover the mattress for further evidence.   

In November 2024, Cartwright was charged with two counts of rape and a single count of assault by penetration. 

The bravery and resilience of these women meant our dedicated detectives could ensure both victims were safeguarded from further abuse and had access to the systems available to get them the support they need.  

Both victims shared their experiences through victim impact statements, which were read to the court upon sentencing, outlining the abuse and trauma they suffered. Parts of each statement is below and demonstrates the long-lasting impact coercive control and domestic abuse can have.  

Person 1:  

“The anxiety that I would feel about how he would treat me frequently caused me to physically throw up. […] 

I know that I am not to blame, but I am still so frustrated with myself for letting him treat me like this. I don’t know how could I just freeze when he hit me or accept it when he tried to control me. When I think of that, I feel like I was so weak and there is real shame that I am still trying to work through.” 

Person 2: 

“When I would finally get to sleep, I would be constantly woken up by what happened. It was not a nightmare as such, but it was like I kept going back to that day. It kept replaying in my head, like I was there again. […]  

The main feeling, I have is anger. I am angry it happened. I am angry with myself that I feel I didn’t do enough to stop it. I know I said no and I pushed him off, however, I was still trying to be nice because I was scared. I sometimes blame myself for what happened to me, which also makes me feel angry.” 

Detective Superintendent Jen Tattersall, GMP’s lead for domestic abuse, said:

“Controlling and coercive behaviour is a massive priority for GMP along with all types of violence against women and girls which includes rape.  

"This case shows a really good investigation which highlights the complexities of that type of investigation and shows how much we take priority around our response to domestic abuse.  

"Cartwright is a dangerous offender. This conviction and sentencing is a fantastic result and demonstrates GMP’s dedication towards DA. We've invested in it, created dedicated DA teams, and we are prioritising it to raise the solved outcome rate for victims of controlling and coercive behaviour. 

"Controlling and coercive behaviour (CCB) can creep up on people, they think they are in a healthy relationship, and it slowly transforms into CCB, which makes it a challenge for victims to come forward and for policing, so GMP are trying to drive forward our overall response to domestic abuse and CCB.” 

Description

A registered sex offender flouted a court order by having software on his phone which wiped his internet history.

Adrian Miles, 58, was visited by officers at his home in Cherry Court, Cambourne, on 1 February 2024.

The officers found he had installed a data cleaning app and deleted monitoring software on his phone.

He had also not informed officers about an Amazon cloud storage account.

All of this put Miles in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order handed down by Exeter Crown Court in May 2022 following a conviction for making indecent images of children. 

On Tuesday (2 September) at Huntingdon Law Courts, Miles was jailed for 20 months, having pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DC Paul Evans, from the force’s management of sexual and violent offenders department, said:

“Miles was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which imposed clear restrictions designed to safeguard the public. His breaches demonstrated a disregard for the legal boundaries set by the court.

“The fact he’s been jailed reflects the gravity of the offences and the importance of upholding protective measures for the safety of others." 

Description

A man has been jailed for 16 years for violent and sexual crimes in the Fife, Dundee and Moray areas between 2006 and 2024.

Stephen Whitehurst, 44, was found guilty of 13 offences, including rapes, against five women at the High Court in Dundee on Tuesday, 5 August, 2025.

He was sentenced on Friday, 5 September, 2025, at the same court, to 16 years in prison, placed on the sex offenders register and given indefinite non-harassment orders in relation to all five women.

Detective Inspector Gordon Patullo said:

“Stephen Whitehurst clearly poses a threat to women and he now faces a lengthy period behind bars for these despicable crimes.

“I commend the strength of the women in coming forward to report his offending and throughout the court process. I hope the outcome brings them some form of justice.

“Police Scotland is committed to tackling all reports of sexual crimes, regardless of when they happened. I’d urge anyone who has been a victim to report it to us. I can assure you, we will fully investigate and you will be supported by our specially trained officers and partner agencies.”

Description

A child rapist’s despicable offending was exposed when officers went through his phone.

Carl Andrews put himself on the police’s radar after uploading indecent images of children online.

When confronted with this, Andrews admitted to owning the images, but denied doing anything else.

Not buying this, officers reviewed all his devices and discovered videos of him sexually abusing young children.

Both the victims – a boy and a girl – are believed to have been targeted during 2022 by Andrews in Nottinghamshire.

Distinctive tattoos on Andrews’ hands that were visible in the videos were used by police to link him to those crimes.

More than 1,400 indecent photos and videos of children were also discovered on the sexual predator’s phone and other devices.

He would go on to be charged with a range of child sex offences.

This included rape, inciting someone to engage in sexual activity, assault by touching and three counts of making indecent images of children.

Faced with the damning evidence against him, Andrews elected to plead guilty to the six separate counts on 18 July this year.

He returned to Nottingham Crown Court to be sentenced on Wednesday (3 September).

Andrews, of Charles Street, Arnold, was handed an extended sentence of 13 years in jail.

He was also put on the sex offenders’ register for life, made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and issued with a restraining order banning him from ever contacting his victims.

PC Laurenie Haynes, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said:

“The content we found on Carl Andrews’ devices was disgraceful and vile.

“Amongst the more than 1,400 indecent images of children were videos of Andrews himself sexually abusing and in one case raping young children.

“There are truly no words to describe how much of a heinous crime that is.

“We were able to prove it was him in the videos because of distinctive tattoos on him that were clearly visible in the clips.

“Thankfully, the evidence we gathered was sufficient to pressurise Andrews to admit what he’d done, so his victims and their families didn’t have to sit through a trial.

“Andrews is a despicable individual who belongs behind bars, so we’re pleased to see he’s now been jailed.

“Despite this, we believe there could be other victims out there, who may have been targeted by Andrews but haven’t felt able to report it yet.

“To them, we’d say please come forward. It doesn’t matter if it happened years and years ago, we will listen to you and investigate further.”

Description

A Brixham man has been jailed for seven and half years for the sexual abuse of two boys.

Graham Bartlett, 56, from Briseham Road in Brixham, was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Thursday 4 September after previously being found guilty by a jury of sexual activity with a child and four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13. He had previously pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing incident images of children.

Bartlett was found not guilty of a number of other child sexual abuse charges.

During the trial, the court heard how in 2008 a then teenage boy disclosed that he had been abused by Bartlett, however no action was taken against Bartlett at this time.

Eleven years later in 2019, another adult male disclosed been sexually abused by Bartlett when he was a child, leading to the 2008 case being reopened.

On his arrest, indecent images and videos spanning Categories A, B and C were found on Bartlett’s phone.

The court heard that Bartlett had groomed the boys before the sexual offending occurred.

In interview Bartlett admitted knowing both victims but denied having any sexual interest in young boys, and any sexual activity taking place. The victims were not known to each other.

He blamed the indecent images on his phone on a cracked screen and viruses.

Bartlett appeared in court yesterday where the judge sentenced him to seven and a half years in prison. He will also sign the sex offenders register for life.

Officer in the case DC Julian Smith said: “Graham Bartlett has now been convicted of a number of sexual offences committed against children.

“Despite overwhelming evidence pointing to Bartlett having a sexual interest in young boys, he’s never had the courage to admit what he did and as a result, forced the victims to give evidence at court.

“I would like to thank all those connected to the case for remaining engaged during the court process.

“We will continue to investigate all allegations of child sexual abuse, regardless of when it was reported, and support victims every step of the way.”

Description

A man has been jailed for several years after raping a woman in Warminster.

Shaun Bundy, 41, of Pookfield Close, Nunney, Frome, appeared at Winchester Crown Court yesterday (04/09) after being found guilty of rape following a retrial.

He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment plus an extended five years on licence.

He is also required to sign on to the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely.

On May 26, 2023, Bundy attended the home of the victim, a woman in her 30s who was known to Bundy, to collect tools.

He loaded the tools into the back of his vehicle and asked for a drink of water, which the victim agreed to.

Inside the address, Bundy has then raped the victim, before leaving and ordering her not to tell anyone.

The victim bravely reported the incident to the police shortly after and Bundy was arrested the same day at his home address.

In interview, he denied the offence, claiming he had been to the victim’s address but no sexual activity had taken place.

After Bundy’s DNA was found following a forensic examination, he was re-interviewed but continued to deny any sexual contact had taken place.

He was subsequently charged with rape and pleaded not guilty, forcing the victim to relive the experience through the court process.

He was found guilty in a re-trial following a hung jury in the first trial.

DS Toni Nugent of South CID said:

“Firstly I want to pay tribute to the victim for the incredible bravery she has shown throughout the process.

“Not only did she come forward to make the report but Bundy then forced her to go through a trial twice despite the forensic evidence.

“The victim also had the support of an independent sexual violence adviser (ISVA) – these are specially trained advisers who provide specialist support to victims who have experienced rape and sexual assault.

“An ISVA provides impartial information to the victim/survivor about their options throughout the process.

“I am pleased that after a court process lasting for more than two years for the victim, Bundy has now been jailed for his crime and will also be on the Sex Offender’s Register for life.”

Description

“It was not just about ensuring a man was convicted of a crime but also that an extremely brave child and her family were looked after during the most horrendous time”.

On Friday (29 August), Ashley Carnell, 52, of Willoughby Waterleys, Leicester, was sentenced to five years imprisonment at Leicester Crown Court after being found guilty following trial of sexual touching of a girl under 13.

Carnell was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

The investigation came following a brave disclosure by the victim, who was aged seven at the time of the offence, to her parents who contacted the police.

Detective Constable Kamran Kalia, from the force’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, was the officer in the case.

He said:

“It was after the victim became upset and her parents realised something was wrong, that they had a gentle conversation with the victim which led to the victim bravely telling her parents about what had happened. Her parents immediately made contact with the police.

“While one of our priorities was of course to speak to the suspect, it was important we did this in the right way with the victim at the centre of our investigation. It was not just about ensuring a man was convicted of a crime but also that an extremely brave child and her family were looked after during the most horrendous time. This included ensuring we approached the victim at the right time, in the right way and with the right support available. We also worked to ensure the victim’s parents were kept fully involved and updated during a very upsetting and distressing time.

“Specialist interviews were carried out with the victim by trained officers to ensure the victim felt as comfortable and as supported as possible. An independent trained specialist advisor was also put in place to ensure the victim had a consistent point of contact to provide advice and support.

“Carnell was charged and as we progressed to court, we put measures in place so that the victim could pre-record her evidence to be presented in court, thereby ensuring that we were doing everything we could to support a young person in very difficult and distressing circumstances.

“I’m extremely grateful to the victim and her family for the bravery and co-operation they have shown throughout which has allowed us to ensure the conviction of a sexual offender."

Description

A man casually told his wife he had been having sex with a teenage girl - and she alerted police, a court heard.

Paul Robinson's wife was said to have been 'horrified' at his confession, which he disclosed 'as if it was quite normal', a judge was told.

Robinson, a former care worker, then attempted to blame his victim by maintaining that he had been 'manipulated' into his actions.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday that his offending came to light after he 'disclosed to his wife that there had been sexual activity' between him and the teenager. The 38-year-old, of no fixed address but formerly of Stockbridge Village, made the confession 'as a matter of fact, as if it was quite normal'.

But Philip Astbury, prosecuting, described how his wife was left 'horrified' and contacted the police. Officers discovered a string of messages between Robinson and the girl.

While the complainant was initially "afraid to speak" to detectives, she later detailed how he had plied her with cannabis before "touching her inappropriately", reports The Echo.

Robinson has one previous conviction, receiving a community order in 2020 for disclosing private sexual images with intent to cause distress. Stella Hayden, defending, told the court: "This will be his first custodial sentence. During the course of his interview with probation, he was able to articulate a degree of remorse. He described being disgusted by his actions. He did express shame for the serious harm that he has caused.

"In custody, he has been referred for therapy and appreciates that he must work to address his offending behaviour. He is committed to engaging with all of the intervention that is offered to him. One can only hope that the intervention and rehabilitative work will address the risk that has been identified.

"The pre-sentence report details much of the defendant's background. The phrase used is his combined experience of trauma, including the loss of both of his parents at a relatively young age. He has suffered a decline in his mental and physical health in the past few years. The report discusses attempts on his own life and self harm."

Robinson admitted six sexual offences. Appearing in the dock wearing a peach coloured t-shirt, he was jailed for six years and eight months and told to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC referenced Robinson giving an account to the author of his pre-sentence report that the victim had instigated the sexual activity herself and claimed that he had been "manipulated" by her.

He said of this:

"If you have maintained that position, I would not have accepted it.

"This came to light when you told your wife about what had been happening. You groomed her through the messaging and the provision of cannabis. I note that, although you have been diagnosed as having a mild to moderate learning disability, you have been employed, primarily in the care sector. I take on board the submission that you have a limited criminal record, with only one previous conviction for a dissimilar sexual offence.

"This is your first custodial offence, and you have been making use of your time in custody. It is said that you have expressed remorse, but that is tempered with your attempts to blame your victim. She is trying to rebuild her life. She is trying to put all of this behind her."

Description

Surgeon Jailed After Self-Amputating Legs for Insurance Fraud and Possessing Extreme Pornography

An NHS vascular surgeon who had his own legs removed has been jailed for two years and eight months for insurance fraud and possessing extreme pornography.

Neil Hopper, 49, of Truro, Cornwall, carried out hundreds of amputation operations before having his own legs removed in 2019.

Truro Crown Court heard he lied to insurers by claiming that injuries to his legs were the result of sepsis and not self-inflicted.

Details of the Self-Inflicted Injuries

The court heard that in May 2019, Hopper underwent below-knee amputations after a "mysterious illness." In fact, he had used ice and dry ice to freeze his own legs so they had to be removed, said prosecutor Nicholas Lee.

Hopper had both legs amputated after complaining that his feet were in pain. He was treated for suspected sepsis before surgeons advised amputation, and he underwent the operation. He did not tell the medics the real cause of his injuries, the court heard.

The court heard Hopper, who admitted two counts of fraud and three of possessing extreme pornography, had a "sexual interest in amputation."

"His motivations were a combination of obsession with removing parts of his own body and a sexual interest in doing so," Mr. Lee said. "It seems to have been a long-standing ambition of his."

Hopper had suffered body dysphoria since childhood, and his feet were an "unwelcome extra" and a "persisting never-ending discomfort" to him, said defense counsel Andrew Langdon, KC.

Fraudulent Claims and Motivations

The fraudulent insurance claims from two firms totaled more than £466,000, the court heard.

Hopper had been tempted by "greed," said Mr. Lee. He had messaged a friend about the claims, saying he should "milk it," the court heard. He "enjoyed" the interest from the media in his case, Mr. Lee told the court.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it would be making an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2022 to recover the money that Hopper acquired through the fraud.

Extreme Pornography Charges

The extreme pornography offenses were connected to videos of body mutilations that Hopper had purchased online and did not include children, the court heard.

Hopper was identified following investigations into Marius Gustavson, who ran the EunuchMaker website. Mr. Lee told the court that Hopper had bought three videos from the website for £10 and £35, respectively, showing men willingly having their genitals removed.

He also exchanged about 1,500 messages with Gustavson about his own lower leg amputations and how he had done it, including asking how much dry ice he used.

Gustavson was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years at the Old Bailey in 2024 for leading an extreme body modification ring.

Sentencing and Mitigation

Judge James Adkin said in sentencing that he accepted that Hopper, who had no previous convictions, was remorseful.

However, the "level of harm" in three videos of body mutilation which were the subject of the pornography charges was "exceptionally high," he said.

In mitigation, Mr. Langdon said the offenses had been a "shock" to friends. He said: "He [Hopper] has been committed to working to the service of others. The whole saga is very difficult to comprehend."

Hopper did not regret the operations but "bitterly regrets" the "dishonesty" about their cause, Mr. Langdon said. After the operations, Hopper had been "totally overwhelmed by support from friends and family which made it even more difficult to tell them what had really happened."

Aftermath and Professional Impact

After the amputations, Hopper was back at work in just under six months with prosthetic legs. He was arrested in March 2023 and has been suspended from the medical register since December 2023.

Hopper, who is originally from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, had been employed by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) from 2013 until he was arrested in March 2023.

A spokesperson for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust said after the case that the convictions did not relate to Mr. Hopper's "professional conduct" at its hospitals.

The trust had carried out "comprehensive clinical reviews of surgery" by Hopper, "including engaging an experienced independent clinical expert to review decisions to operate," they said.

"We want to reassure the public that our exhaustive investigations have found no evidence whatsoever to indicate any risk or harm to patients at our hospitals," they said.

Assistant Chief Constable Jim Pearce said after the case that Devon and Cornwall Police had "worked closely" with the trust and "none of the criminal charges related to Hopper's professional conduct with no risk to patients he treated in his work at the hospital identified during the current police investigation."

Hopper also worked at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, Wales, for a period of training in general surgery in 2011, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has confirmed. In an interview with the BBC in 2023, he also said he had worked in Swansea and Bangor. The relevant health boards have been asked to confirm.

Reactions from Former Patients

However, former patients of Hopper, including some who underwent amputations, have contacted a South West-based medical negligence firm. They said they were concerned about the treatment they received from Hopper, in light of the criminal charges brought against him.

Mike Bird, partner at Enable Law, said the case had caused "shock and grave concern" among his former patients. "Some have had life-changing surgery and are now worried it was not really needed," Mr. Bird said.

"While we understand that RCHT have said that the charges do not relate to his professional conduct and there is apparently no evidence suggesting any risk to patients, this is such a serious situation that there must be a rigorous public investigation."

Jason Abbot, 38, from Hayle, whose foot was amputated by Hopper in November 2022 after painful arthritis in an ankle, said he had no concerns about his care. "He was great, very supportive of the situation, [he gave] me loads of information about it and told me to have a really good think about it and I did."

He said he "felt shocked" that Hopper had been convicted. "I never thought he would do anything like that."