The mastermind behind an extreme body modification ring that carried out “grizzly and gruesome” procedures including castrations has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years.

Warning: The following article contains graphic details of extreme physical mutilation

Marius Gustavson, 46, ran a “lucrative business” sharing images of “dangerous, unnecessary and life-changing surgeries” carried out by people with no medical qualifications, the Old Bailey heard.

The Norwegian national made almost £300,000 through his open website “eunuchmaker.com”, which amassed 22,841 users as it became increasingly professional.

He advertised his services, such as male castration, penis removal and freezing of limbs, while customers paid to view footage of the procedures or could take out a £100-a-year subscription.

“Arch-manipulator” Gustavson had his own penis cut off, the tip of his nipple removed, and his leg frozen so that it had to be amputated, and recruited like-minded individuals to assist him, the court heard.

Gustavson, who claimed £18,500 in disability benefits after losing his leg and now uses a wheelchair, appeared in court for sentencing by video-link from HMP Wandsworth.

The Old Bailey was told body parts, including testicles, were kept in takeaway tubs in his freezer, while Gustavson’s own penis was found in a drawer in his home almost four years after it was amputated.

The judge said the activity would appear to many to be “at least disgusting and abhorrent”.

He said the procedures, some of which were carried out with knives or surgical scalpels, were “grave and life-threatening matters” with “permanent and irreversible” results.

“Many of them may require extensive medical and other assistance for the rest of their lives.”

An image of body parts kept in his freezer was “no doubt what you would regard as the trophies of your acts of carrying out extreme body modifications”, he told Gustavson.

“You are very much the mastermind behind this grizzly and gruesome enterprise,” he said.

“The motivations of all were a mix of sexual gratification as well as financial reward.”

‘Clear evidence of cannibalism’

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC said he sold body parts, while there “was clear evidence of cannibalism” in the case and images found on Gustavson’s phone from 22 June 2018 show “he cooked some testicles for lunch”.

“The images, from raw ingredients to an artfully arranged salad platter, were discovered by officers,” she said.

Gustavson, who was said to have been involved in almost 30 procedures, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm (GBH) between 2016 and 2022.

He also admitted five more counts of causing GBH with intent, making an indecent image of a child, possessing criminal property, possessing extreme pornographic images and three counts of distributing indecent pseudo-photographs of a child.

‘Cult-like atmosphere’

Nine other men have admitted their involvement with Gustavson’s ring after one victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, went to police after feeling he was “tricked” into a procedure while under the influence of drugs.

He said in a victim impact statement Gustavson created a “cult-like atmosphere” around him, which was “captivating and mesmerising” and “his veneer of respectability was a masterstroke”.

The prosecutor said the “nature and scale” of the procedures “is without precedent”.

One victim was branded with EM – eunuch maker – while a dice game was played to decide what body parts would be removed from another.

‘Human butchery’

Some required emergency medical treatment following procedures described by the judge as “little short of human butchery”.

They were carried out at Gustavson’s home in north London, rented apartments or hotels, and the victims, including a 16-year-old boy, were promised money from the video revenue, the court heard.

Prosecutors said many of the men who underwent procedures consented to them, while all of those charged were motivated by the sexual element of the offences and financial gain.

Wanted to be ‘architect of own body’

Rashvinderjeet Panesar, defending Gustavson, said his “desire to be the architect of his own body” began during puberty before the recognition of body integrity dysphoria but the modifications were triggered by the end of his marriage in 2016.

The procedures gave him “feelings of empowerment and greater acceptance of himself” and he wanted to help others stuck in a body they wanted to make changes to and “wished to put a smile on other people’s faces,” he said.

The barrister compared the practice to transgender operations but with “people who want to be known as ‘nullos’ or of neutral gender” and in circumstances “where legal medical procedures haven’t caught up”.

Mr Panesar said that what may be seen in the courtroom as “depraved, dangerous, and unnecessary is the cost of happiness for others”.

Former NHS domestic assistant David Carruthers, 61, Janus Atkin, 39 – who had studied to be a vet – retired chemist Peter Wates, 67 and Romanian national Ion Ciucur, 30, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit GBH between 2016 and 2022.

They were jailed for 11 years, 12 years, 12 years, and five years and eight months respectively

Carruthers’ partner Ashley Williams, 32, and German Stefan Scharf, 61, also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and were each jailed for four and a half years.

They will all serve two thirds before being released on licence.

Jacob Crimi-Appleby, 23, Damien Byrnes, 36, and Nathaniel Arnold, 48, have already been sentenced – to three years and eight months, five years, and two years suspended respectively – all having pleaded guilty to GBH.

Crown Prosecution Service specialist prosecutor Kate Mulholland said: “Marius Gustavson ignored the risks of performing unnecessary surgery on vulnerable men for sexual gratification and financial gain.

“He actively recruited participants through his website and was paid to stream the footage of these barbaric procedures.”

Five babies in England have died after being diagnosed with whooping cough, health officials have said amid a rapid rise in cases.

More than 2,700 whooping cough cases have been reported across England so far this year – more than three times the amount recorded in the whole of last year.

New UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures show there were 2,793 cases reported to the end of March.

This is compared with the 858 cases for the whole of 2023.

The UKHSA said there have been five infant deaths between January and the end of March.

“Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but for very young babies it can be extremely serious,” said UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.”

There were 1,319 cases reported in March alone, according to the provisional data. There were 556 cases recorded in January and 918 in February.

Between January and the end of March, 108 babies under the age of three months were diagnosed with whooping cough. Some 51% of cases during this period were among those aged 15 and older.

The bacterial infection, also known as pertussis, affects the lungs and breathing tubes.

Whooping cough can be called the “100-day cough” because of how long it can take to recover from it, and it spreads very easily.

Pregnant women are being urged to take up the offer of the whooping cough vaccine so they can pass on protection to their babies, which should last until they are old enough to get vaccinated themselves.

NHS national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country, and today’s figures sadly showing five infant deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need.

“If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet, or your child is not up-to-date with whooping cough or other routine vaccinations, please contact your GP as soon as possible, and if you or your child show symptoms ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.”

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Health officials describe whooping cough as a “cyclical disease”, meaning it peaks every three to five years, with the last big increase in 2016.

The UKHSA said the impact of the COVID pandemic means there is “reduced immunity in the population”, while vaccine uptake has fallen in recent years for both pregnant women and children.

The NHS recommends all pregnant women are vaccinated against whooping cough between 16 and 32 weeks with immunity passing through the placenta to protect newborn babies in their first weeks of life.

UKHSA said the first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are typically worse at night.

Young babies may also make a distinctive “whoop” or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing, though not all babies make this noise which means whooping cough can be hard to recognise.

Businesses have been evacuated and 10 fire engines sent to the scene after a fire broke out in a Staffordshire parcel centre.

Firefighters are tackling a blaze at Super Smart Services – a distribution warehouse “which contains a variety of different materials for delivery” – near the A460 Orbital Island in Cannock.

Plumes of black smoke were seen billowing out from the centre on Thursday morning, with some on social media claiming it could be seen 10 miles away.

Rob Humphries, who lives in Abbots Bromley, told PA he saw the “huge plume of smoke in the distance” while walking his dog in the morning.

A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said its firefighters were called out at 6.15am, and that no one was in the parcel centre at the time of the fire.

Other businesses on the estate were also ordered to evacuate and nearby residents were told to close their windows.

A total of 10 fire engines attended the blaze. West Midlands Fire Service and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service also assisted.

As of writing, it is unclear what caused the fire.

Super Smart Services says on its website that its Cannock site opened in September 2019 creating “more than 300+ new jobs”.