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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Mapped: The areas of the UK with the highest levels of crime revealed
Police forces recorded 6.6 million crimes in England and Wales in the past year, official figures show, including a sharp increase in shoplifting. The total is up from 6.1 million in the pre-pandemic year of 2019-2020, and from 4.2 million a decade earlier in 2014-2015, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures published by the ONS used data collected as part of the Crime Survey for England and Wales. It showed the number of crimes against individuals and households in England and Wales rose to around 9.4 million in the year ending March 2025. The number of shoplifting offences surged to the highest figure since current police recording practices began in 2003. Some 530,643 offences were logged in 2024/25, up 20 per cent from 2023/24. Theft from the person offences also remain at record levels, with 151,220 recorded by forces in the year to March, up 15 per cent from 131,584 in the previous 12 months. Meanwhile, the number of homicides dropped by six per cent to 535 offences, the lowest level recorded in more than a decade. The Independent has put together the maps below showing total crime, homicides, sexual offences and shoplifting broken down by police force areas in England and Wales: The Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of crimes last year, with 942,674 offences logged across London. Greater Manchester Police followed with just over 319,000 offences, while West Midlands Police came third highest with nearly 309,000. At the other end, City of London Police, covering the small financial district, recorded just over 9,000 crimes, the lowest of any force. Cumbria Constabulary had around 37,000 offences, and Dyfed-Powys in Wales logged about 38,000. The Metropolitan Police also saw the highest number of homicides, with 104 killings over the year. West Midlands Police recorded 31, and Greater Manchester Police reported 27. The country's biggest police force also saw the highest number of sexual offences, with more than 55,000 recorded incidents. West Yorkshire Police came next with around 46,000, followed by Greater Manchester Police with almost 43,500. Shoplifting was also concentrated in the largest metropolitan areas. London again topped the list with nearly 94,000 offences, West Midlands Police recorded around 32,700, and West Yorkshire Police logged roughly 22,700 incidents. Retail bosses have warned that official statistics are likely to be the tip of the iceberg, and that shop owners need to see immediate results as ministers have pledged thousands more officers for neighbourhood policing. The ONS said that because these estimates are still in development and are subject to change, caution should be taken when making comparisons between the two years, and it is not possible to say whether the difference is statistically significant. Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'This summer our new neighbourhood policing guarantee means over 500 town centres are getting extra neighbourhood patrols and action on town centre crime, and we are delivering the first 3,000 increase in neighbourhood officers and PCSOs in communities by next spring.' The Crime Survey for England and Wales covers a range of personal and household victim-based crime, including theft, robbery, criminal damage, fraud, computer misuse and violence with or without injury, but does not include sexual offences, stalking, harassment and domestic abuse, which are presented separately. Experiences of theft, criminal damage and violence with or without injury, as measured by the ONS survey, have been on a broad downwards trend since the mid-1990s.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
New clashes outside London hotel housing migrants
A ring of steel is being set up around a luxury four-star hotel that's been converted to house migrants, following sweeping protests this week. Large barriers have been installed outside The Britannia International Hotel in London's Canary Wharf this morning. It comes after a second night of fiery scenes following a major rally by anti-migrant activists outside the swanky city centre venue - where rooms can go for up to £425 a night. Guards kitted out in black uniforms and wearing face masks were seen manning the barriers this morning, as security was tightened. Meanwhile, more than a dozen officers from the Metropolitan Police have gathered outside the building. The heightened protective measures come amid fresh fears of further protests exploding tomorrow and over the weekend. In Epping, Essex, the community is once against braced for fresh demonstrations this week following violent clashes by 'thugs' outside The Bell Hotel, which is also housing illegal asylum seekers. The mayhem erupted earlier this month after one of the hotel's Ethiopian residents was charged with sexually assaulting schoolgirls in the leafy Essex town. This afternoon, metal fencing was delivered to the hotel on the back of a flatbed truck, in a seeming drive to beef up the building's defences. Since the disorder earlier this month, protests have spread to other parts of the country, with more than 150 gathering outside The Park Hotel, in Diss, Norfolk on Monday after the Home Office announced plans to change it from housing asylum-seeker families to single men. The boss of the organisation representing rank-and-file police officers has chillingly warned the disorder in Epping's was the 'signal flare' which could spark an outbreak of violent protests. Police could now be dragged away from neighbourhood duties to keep the peace at rallies outside migrant hotels, said Tiff Lynch, head of the Police Federation. Ms Lynch said officers were being 'pulled in every direction' and commanders were 'forced to choose between keeping the peace at home or plugging national gaps'. She said if violent protests spread throughout the summer, it would be 'dangerous to assume' that police forces would be able to 'hold the line indefinitely' 'It would be comical if it weren't so serious - and so familiar. Local commanders are once again being forced to choose between keeping the peace at home or plugging national gaps,' she wrote in the Telegraph . She said Epping was 'not just a troubling one-off', adding: ' It was a signal flare. A reminder of how little it takes for tensions to erupt and how ill-prepared we remain to deal with it.' The hotel in Canary Wharf was the latest to be converted into asylum accommodation by the Home Office, as Britain braces itself for a potential surge in illegal migrants crossing the Channel in the summer. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been warned the nation could face a second 'summer of riots' if Labour fails to get a grip on such hotels being used amid rising public anger. The decision for the four-star city building to house asylum seekers has already been branded an 'insult', with some residents and local business owners saying they fear for their safety. Anti-migrant activists claim the new wall outside the lavish glass-fronted building has been built to keep them away from the hotel entrance after yesterday's rally, which saw them clashing with police. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Phiip went on the attack last night and blasted the government for spending taxpayers' cash on housing migrants in Canary Wharf. 'It is outrageous that the Government is splurging taxpayers' hard-earned money on luxury hotels for illegal immigrants when most people in this country would struggle to afford a hotel in central London,' he told The Sun. 'This is one of the most luxurious hotels people can only dream of staying in, right in the heart of London's financial centre.' He continued: 'No wonder illegal immigrants are flooding across the Channel in record numbers,' adding: 'This is an insult to law-abiding citizens.' Workers spent yesterday hauling beds and mattresses into a four-star hotel in Canary Wharf after a night of protests in response to Government plans to house migrants there. Labourers dragging new furniture into the hotel were allowed through the metal fencing and police cordon in preparation for the arrival of 'hundreds' of asylum seekers. Today, workers inside the hotel appeared to be installing privacy tape on the main entrance doors at the site, which obscured views into the building. Protesters had gathered outside the hotel amid reports asylum seekers were being transferred from Epping, where trouble had previously broken out, to the capital, although the Home Office later clarified this was not the case. Tower Hamlets Council did, however, confirm the Government intends to use the hotel - which has around 500 rooms - for asylum seekers in a move which has angered anti-migrant protesters and guests whose bookings have been cancelled. The Met Police said it has officers at the scene and warned it wouldn't hesitate to clampdown on criminal thugs trying to create mayhem outside the hotel. A spokesman told MailOnline: 'We continue to have officers deployed in the vicinity of the Britannia International Hotel where protests have taken place over recent days. 'They are there to provide reassurance to local residents and businesses, to ensure that any further protest takes place peacefully and to respond to any incidents. 'We continue to encourage those exercising their lawful right to protest to do so responsibly and with consideration to the impact on those trying to go about their lives in the local area. 'Anyone who crosses the line from lawful protest into criminality can expect to face police action.' In Epping, Essex Police has issued a dispersal order, which is in place from 2pm on Thursday until 8am on Friday, covering an area including the town centre, transport hubs and networks such as the underground station. The order gives officers the power to tell anyone suspected of committing or planning antisocial behaviour to leave the area or face arrest. It comes as the force faces criticism over its handling of the display, which led to riot police being drafted in, as activists hurled bricks and other missiles at police vans. The Chief Constable for Essex Police has dismissed calls to resign over the force's handling of the Epping protests after footage emerged of officers escorting pro-migrant activists to an asylum seeker hotel where violent clashes erupted. Ben-Julian Harrington rejected calls from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to step down and firmly extinguished claims his officers had given a higher level of protection to pro-migrant protesters. Asked if he would resign, he told a press conference on Wednesday: 'No, I am not [resigning]. I am not going to do that. This is not about me, this is about the communities of Essex.' He added: 'The issue is not about my resignation. The issue is about an effective police operation that keeps the communities of Epping safe...' The Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, has been the centre of a string of violent demonstrations after an asylum seeker was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the town eight days after arriving in the UK. Essex Police had initially denied it had brought Stand Up to Racism activists to the hotel before ugly clashes broke out with anti-migrant protesters on Thursday. But after being shown footage of officers leading the group from a nearby station to outside the hotel, the force then backtracked and admitted it had provided a 'foot cordon'. Mr Farage called for Chief Constable Harrington to resign, saying the footage is 'absolutely disgraceful' and 'heads must roll'. The Reform UK leader later posted footage allegedly showing pro-migrant protesters being 'bussed' to the demonstration in police vans but Essex Police said this was 'categorically' untrue. The force explained that pro-migrant protesters were given a 'foot cordon' on their way to the protest and those who were 'clearly at risk of being hurt' later on were 'escorted by vehicle'. Facing a barrage of questions, Chief Constable Harrington rejected claims his officers had given a higher level of protection to pro-migrant protesters. 'No, I don't accept that,' he said. 'The only protection that officers are doing is to those lawful and law-abiding people, whether they are in that accommodation, whether they are the people of Epping or whether they are people who are standing there with placards and banners wishing to make a very important and legitimate view, whichever your views about it. 'Where officers have intervened that is because there has been are not being partial in any way, shape or form.' The chief constable also dismissed claims pro-migrants were 'bussed' to the hotel', explaining: 'There has been some accusations in the media that we drove people to the protest. That is not true. All four are due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on August 18. Joe McKenna, 34, of Wickford, is charged with failing to remove a face covering when directed to do so. He remains on bail ahead of a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24. The demonstrations followed a man living in the hotel being charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and was remanded in custody.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Sick crimes of Eunuch Maker ‘admired by Brit surgeon' who paid men £25k to slice off genitals and sold body parts online
HE dubbed himself 'The Eunuch Maker' and sold gruesome videos of human butchery to hundreds around the world - with an amputee Brit surgeon now accused of buying them. 15 Neil Hopper claimed to have lost his legs to sepsis but is accused of causing the injuries himself Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 15 Hopper had allegedly bought gruesome videos from the so-called 'human butcher' Credit: Instagram 15 Marius Gustavson - otherwise known as the 'Eunuch Maker' Credit: Metropolitan Police 15 A screenshot from Gustavson's sick castration-fetish forum Credit: Metropolitan Police Until yesterday, it was believed that But Hopper is now accused of causing these injuries himself, possibly inspired by videos he'd bought off cannibalistic Gustavsen - and he'd allegedly also encouraged the "human butcher" to chop up even more people. Hopper - charged with fraud and with encouraging grievous bodily harm - was far from the only person potentially linked with Gustavson. The Norwegian was the ringleader of a website on which 22,000 online subscribers tuned in to watch live-streamed videos of the Read More Features He headed a subculture obsessed with severing genitals, trading body parts, and even eating them - and pocketing hundreds of thousands of pounds in the process. Gustavson - who was sent to jail in May 2024 - cut off his own penis, removed his nipple, and had his leg frozen so that it had been amputated. Yet despite his vile crimes, to many, now-jailed Marius Gustavson was a hero - or even a god. 'That website made it feel normal. I still thought I was in control,' said one victim, Michael. Most read in The Sun 'He then went to his wardrobe and brought out the clamps. 'That was the moment I knew I'd screwed up.' Sickening crimes of the 'Eunuch Maker' who offered desperate men £25k to lop off their genitals with kitchen knives Despite being sentenced to life in prison, Marius is unrepentant for his crimes, as revealed in a documentary investigation by Marcel Theroux earlier this year. Isolated misfit Born in 1977, Marius grew up in a rural village on the outskirts of Drammen, a city near the capital Oslo. News of his gruesome crimes sent shockwaves throughout the small community. Remembering him as a tender-hearted boy who struggled to fit in, nothing had hinted towards who he would turn into. 'He was definitely not one of the cool kids, and probably lacked some social skills,' remembers Camilla, one of his former classmates. Growing up as an only child in this isolated village, Marius would stay closeted until his late teams. 15 While living in Norway, Gustavson went to prison for eight months after embezzling £30,000 Credit: Facebook 15 The knife used to castrate Gustavson Credit: PA By high school he had started to come out of his shell, and afterwards went on to become a leading figure in the Drammen LGBT activist scene. Soon after, however, he would have his first brush with the law - embezzling £5,000 worth of goods via the housing association he was leader of. A couple years later, he did it again - this time embezzling £30,000, for which he served eight months in prison. But despite what friends and family saw, Marius had long been set on the path that was to plunge him into the subculture of mutilation and castration. What got me through the day was the next bit of fun I'd have - BDSM, bondage, sadomasochism Michael In the documentary, Theroux paid him an off-camera visit in Wandsworth Prison shortly after he pleaded guilty. Marius reveals that aged 14 he became fascinated with a picture in a book of an Indian eunuch with their genitalia entirely removed. 'That's who I am,' he told Theroux. Sick website In 2012, Marius left Norway for London after the breakdown of his marriage, immersing himself in a subculture of people obsessed with becoming a 'nullo' - short for genital nullification. Soon he created his website - The Eunuch - an online forum on which users were able to create profiles that detailed what they wanted done to them, share pictures and videos, and buy the amputated organs. Marius himself went by the username of Theo - the Greek word for god. With a growing online reputation, he finally had his own penis removed in 2017. Audio recordings played during his sentencing captured moments castrations had gone wrong, forcing him to Images of Marius posing with a severed penis and putting it in his mouth were also shown. Other acts of butchery were carried out with kitchen knives, with amputated genitalia kept in the fridge to be sold on. 15 Images of Gustavson putting a severed penis in his mouth were shown to the Old Bailey 15 Hopper allegedly encouraged Gustavson to carry out more mutilations Credit: Instagram Michael, who has kept his surname anonymous, was introduced to Marius via a friend in the London kink scene in 2018. 'I was in a really bad place - I had a spiralling drug addiction, was depressed and suicidal,' he said. 'What got me through the day was the next bit of fun I'd have - BDSM, bondage, sadomasochism.' Meeting him for the first time, he was shocked to see that Marius had intentionally removed his own leg by submerging it in a bucket of dry ice for eight hours. 'He said he'd thought it would be cool not to have one,' Michael told the documentary. 'I just thought f*** - this guy's actually serious about what he's doing.' Making it clear he didn't want to receive any permanent damage, Michael and Marius enjoyed a night of bondage and torture. Marius then revealed his website to Michael, encouraging him to join. Farmyard clamps Though originally against the idea of castration, his mind was slowly being warped by world Marius had opened the door to. 'That website made it feel normal,' he continued. 'You were told all the benefits, how you could control your hormones, your sex drive. You'd feel empowered, you'll feel better - no one said anything negative about it. 'He sent me a tariff of what videos would earn me in revenue: £5-7,000 for a testicle removal, £15-25,000 for losing your c**k.' Temptation had won out, and Michael removed his limit of no permanent damage. 'I still thought I was in control. I was absolutely convinced. 15 A pair of clamps similar to the ones used by Gustavson to perform his castrations Credit: wikipedia 'Then the next week, he said, 'Hey, we'll castrate you then'. And so we started planning.' Michael went up to London and met Marius in his flat. He got himself strapped down and took some drugs, at which point Marius fetched his instrument of choice - a pair of clamps normally used to castrate farm animals - all while the camera was pointed towards him. 'Never in my darkest dreams had I thought about those,' Michael continued. 'The pain was something else. But instead of calling for a stop to it, I just asked for more drugs. After an hour with the blood supply cut off, both his testicles were dead. Now back home, they had swelled up to the size of a melon. What is gender dysphoria? GENDER dysphoria is a psychological condition characterised by distress or discomfort that arises when there is a difference between a person's gender identity and their sex assigned from birth. This condition can cause severe emotional and psychological distress, impacting an individual's well-being and quality of life. Sometimes, these feelings can cause individuals to feel a sense of shame or self-hatred towards certain parts of their body - often the genitalia, as this is the part of the body most strongly associated with one's sex. Gender dysphoria is also not always as simple as someone feeling as if they ought to have been born the opposite gender. Sometimes it manifests itself as more general feeling of sexual and gender confusion, without any clear "solution." Therapy and other psychological interventions are often used to help individuals for whom their gender dysphoria is impacting their quality of life. Find out more at 'I remember lying in bed, in absolute agony, as the video was posted. Then the messages started coming: 'So cool', 'So hot'. 'A little eunuch badge appeared on my profile because I'd had a verified castration. 'The absolute celebration of it all - it was wonderful. It gave my profile clout. 'It was like fine, I'm committed now, so I agreed to have everything off.' Perverted accomplices Though the mastermind behind the website, Marius didn't always work alone. One, Damien Byrnes, had threatened to go to the police after never receiving money he had been promised for removing his penis - but was blackmailed into backing down with a video that showed him mutilating Marius. Another was a man called David Carruthers. Having worked for the NHS, he convinced Michael that he would be able to safely remove his dead testicles - despite not actually holding any medical qualifications. 15 David Carruthers convinced Michael that he would be able to safely remove his testicles Credit: Metropolitan Police 15 Jacob Crimi-Appleby, 23, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison Credit: PA 15 Nathan Arnold, 48, was given a two year suspended sentence for partially removing Gustavson's right nipple Credit: PA Michael, Marius and David then rented an AirBnB in which they were to perform the operation. But it was to lead to the Eunuch Maker's downfall. Lying on a bed with forceps hanging off him, Michael finally realised the terrible mistake he had made. 'At that point I'd realised how much damage Gustavson had done to me,' Michael recalled. 'I'd realised he had been talking bulls*** so much up until that point. I started to see that he was just a butcher. 'I remember lying on the bed... thinking I don't care if I live or die, I just want to hurt him. 'Sure enough, he was out of there before I could stand up - all his camera equipment packed up and he had p**sed off.' I remember him saying, 'If we don't do this, you'll be really disappointed. You were born to do this' Anonymous victim Despite his ordeal, Michael never received any of the money he had been promised. His counsellor gave him an ultimatum - either Michael had to go to the police, or they would - so eventually he told them everything. The subsequent police raid in 2021 uncovered hours of gruesome footage dating back seven years. No choice But while Marius did put pressure on his victims to undergo castration, many hold zero regrets about what they went through. Unable to go through the NHS, Marius was the only way they could overcome their feelings of self-hatred. One anonymous man who spoke to Theroux told of how for a long time he had struggled with his sexuality, harbouring a deep desire to rid himself of his testicals. After joining the website and having a few meetings with Marius, he agreed to have a testicle removed. 15 Retired chemist Peter Wates removed a man's testicle in a hotel room, while Gustavson filmed Credit: Metropolitan Police 15 Damien Byrnes, 36, from Tottenham, was sentenced to five years in prison Credit: PA 15 HMP Wandsworth, where Gustavson was held after pleading guilty Credit: Getty 'He never did anything against my will, but he did put pressure on me,' he said. 'I remember him saying, 'If we don't do this, you'll be really disappointed. You were born to do this.'' He later met with Marius and an accomplice called Peter Wates to finish the job. 'I was delighted,' he continued. 'I have an enduring sense of gratitude to Marius for helping me reach a position that medically in the UK isn't possible.' Edward, who was castrated in 2017, had originally been sympathetic towards Marius. But this sympathy evaporated after he attended the sentencing. 'I shall always worry that Marius used a video of my procedure to persuade someone else to do something they didn't really want to do,' he said. Marius himself had earned over £300,000 from his website. He was charged with multiple counts of grievous bodily harm, possession of extreme pornography, and for making an indecent image of a child. The court sentenced him to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 22 years. The botched operations nearly led to the deaths of three men, with the judge describing his actions as little short of human butchery. A further nine accomplices were also charged and sentenced. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Sick crimes of Eunuch Maker ‘admired by Brit surgeon' who paid men £25k to slice off genitals and sold body parts online
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE dubbed himself 'The Eunuch Maker' and sold gruesome videos of human butchery to hundreds around the world - with an amputee Brit surgeon now accused of buying them. Marius Gustavson carried out extreme mutilations on troubled men - including to their genitals - with instruments designed for use on farm animals, often in rented hotel rooms and grotty London flats. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 15 Neil Hopper claimed to have lost his legs to sepsis but is accused of causing the injuries himself Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 15 Hopper had allegedly bought gruesome videos from the so-called 'human butcher' Credit: Instagram 15 Marius Gustavson - otherwise known as the 'Eunuch Maker' Credit: Metropolitan Police 15 A screenshot from Gustavson's sick castration-fetish forum Credit: Metropolitan Police Until yesterday, it was believed that Neil Hopper, the "bravest surgeon in Britain", had lost both his legs to sepsis and had even been on This Morning to talk about his battle. But Hopper is now accused of causing these injuries himself, possibly inspired by videos he'd bought off cannibalistic Gustavsen - and he'd allegedly also encouraged the "human butcher" to chop up even more people. Hopper - charged with fraud and with encouraging grievous bodily harm - was far from the only person potentially linked with Gustavson. The Norwegian was the ringleader of a website on which 22,000 online subscribers tuned in to watch live-streamed videos of the brutal castrations. He headed a subculture obsessed with severing genitals, trading body parts, and even eating them - and pocketing hundreds of thousands of pounds in the process. Gustavson - who was sent to jail in May 2024 - cut off his own penis, removed his nipple, and had his leg frozen so that it had been amputated. Yet despite his vile crimes, to many, now-jailed Marius Gustavson was a hero - or even a god. 'That website made it feel normal. I still thought I was in control,' said one victim, Michael. 'He then went to his wardrobe and brought out the clamps. 'That was the moment I knew I'd screwed up.' Sickening crimes of the 'Eunuch Maker' who offered desperate men £25k to lop off their genitals with kitchen knives Despite being sentenced to life in prison, Marius is unrepentant for his crimes, as revealed in a documentary investigation by Marcel Theroux earlier this year. Isolated misfit Born in 1977, Marius grew up in a rural village on the outskirts of Drammen, a city near the capital Oslo. News of his gruesome crimes sent shockwaves throughout the small community. Remembering him as a tender-hearted boy who struggled to fit in, nothing had hinted towards who he would turn into. 'He was definitely not one of the cool kids, and probably lacked some social skills,' remembers Camilla, one of his former classmates. Growing up as an only child in this isolated village, Marius would stay closeted until his late teams. 15 While living in Norway, Gustavson went to prison for eight months after embezzling £30,000 Credit: Facebook 15 The knife used to castrate Gustavson Credit: PA By high school he had started to come out of his shell, and afterwards went on to become a leading figure in the Drammen LGBT activist scene. Soon after, however, he would have his first brush with the law - embezzling £5,000 worth of goods via the housing association he was leader of. A couple years later, he did it again - this time embezzling £30,000, for which he served eight months in prison. But despite what friends and family saw, Marius had long been set on the path that was to plunge him into the subculture of mutilation and castration. What got me through the day was the next bit of fun I'd have - BDSM, bondage, sadomasochism Michael In the documentary, Theroux paid him an off-camera visit in Wandsworth Prison shortly after he pleaded guilty. Marius reveals that aged 14 he became fascinated with a picture in a book of an Indian eunuch with their genitalia entirely removed. 'That's who I am,' he told Theroux. Sick website In 2012, Marius left Norway for London after the breakdown of his marriage, immersing himself in a subculture of people obsessed with becoming a 'nullo' - short for genital nullification. Soon he created his website - The Eunuch - an online forum on which users were able to create profiles that detailed what they wanted done to them, share pictures and videos, and buy the amputated organs. Marius himself went by the username of Theo - the Greek word for god. With a growing online reputation, he finally had his own penis removed in 2017. Audio recordings played during his sentencing captured moments castrations had gone wrong, forcing him to call for ambulances while claiming there had been nothing more than an accident. Images of Marius posing with a severed penis and putting it in his mouth were also shown. Other acts of butchery were carried out with kitchen knives, with amputated genitalia kept in the fridge to be sold on. 15 Images of Gustavson putting a severed penis in his mouth were shown to the Old Bailey 15 Hopper allegedly encouraged Gustavson to carry out more mutilations Credit: Instagram Michael, who has kept his surname anonymous, was introduced to Marius via a friend in the London kink scene in 2018. 'I was in a really bad place - I had a spiralling drug addiction, was depressed and suicidal,' he said. 'What got me through the day was the next bit of fun I'd have - BDSM, bondage, sadomasochism.' Meeting him for the first time, he was shocked to see that Marius had intentionally removed his own leg by submerging it in a bucket of dry ice for eight hours. 'He said he'd thought it would be cool not to have one,' Michael told the documentary. 'I just thought f*** - this guy's actually serious about what he's doing.' Making it clear he didn't want to receive any permanent damage, Michael and Marius enjoyed a night of bondage and torture. Marius then revealed his website to Michael, encouraging him to join. Farmyard clamps Though originally against the idea of castration, his mind was slowly being warped by world Marius had opened the door to. 'That website made it feel normal,' he continued. 'You were told all the benefits, how you could control your hormones, your sex drive. You'd feel empowered, you'll feel better - no one said anything negative about it. 'He sent me a tariff of what videos would earn me in revenue: £5-7,000 for a testicle removal, £15-25,000 for losing your c**k.' Temptation had won out, and Michael removed his limit of no permanent damage. 'I still thought I was in control. I was absolutely convinced. 15 A pair of clamps similar to the ones used by Gustavson to perform his castrations Credit: wikipedia 'Then the next week, he said, 'Hey, we'll castrate you then'. And so we started planning.' Michael went up to London and met Marius in his flat. He got himself strapped down and took some drugs, at which point Marius fetched his instrument of choice - a pair of clamps normally used to castrate farm animals - all while the camera was pointed towards him. 'Never in my darkest dreams had I thought about those,' Michael continued. 'The pain was something else. But instead of calling for a stop to it, I just asked for more drugs. After an hour with the blood supply cut off, both his testicles were dead. Now back home, they had swelled up to the size of a melon. What is gender dysphoria? GENDER dysphoria is a psychological condition characterised by distress or discomfort that arises when there is a difference between a person's gender identity and their sex assigned from birth. This condition can cause severe emotional and psychological distress, impacting an individual's well-being and quality of life. Sometimes, these feelings can cause individuals to feel a sense of shame or self-hatred towards certain parts of their body - often the genitalia, as this is the part of the body most strongly associated with one's sex. Gender dysphoria is also not always as simple as someone feeling as if they ought to have been born the opposite gender. Sometimes it manifests itself as more general feeling of sexual and gender confusion, without any clear "solution." Therapy and other psychological interventions are often used to help individuals for whom their gender dysphoria is impacting their quality of life. Find out more at 'I remember lying in bed, in absolute agony, as the video was posted. Then the messages started coming: 'So cool', 'So hot'. 'A little eunuch badge appeared on my profile because I'd had a verified castration. 'The absolute celebration of it all - it was wonderful. It gave my profile clout. 'It was like fine, I'm committed now, so I agreed to have everything off.' Perverted accomplices Though the mastermind behind the website, Marius didn't always work alone. One, Damien Byrnes, had threatened to go to the police after never receiving money he had been promised for removing his penis - but was blackmailed into backing down with a video that showed him mutilating Marius. Another was a man called David Carruthers. Having worked for the NHS, he convinced Michael that he would be able to safely remove his dead testicles - despite not actually holding any medical qualifications. 15 David Carruthers convinced Michael that he would be able to safely remove his testicles Credit: Metropolitan Police 15 Jacob Crimi-Appleby, 23, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison Credit: PA 15 Nathan Arnold, 48, was given a two year suspended sentence for partially removing Gustavson's right nipple Credit: PA Michael, Marius and David then rented an AirBnB in which they were to perform the operation. But it was to lead to the Eunuch Maker's downfall. Lying on a bed with forceps hanging off him, Michael finally realised the terrible mistake he had made. 'At that point I'd realised how much damage Gustavson had done to me,' Michael recalled. 'I'd realised he had been talking bulls*** so much up until that point. I started to see that he was just a butcher. 'I remember lying on the bed... thinking I don't care if I live or die, I just want to hurt him. 'Sure enough, he was out of there before I could stand up - all his camera equipment packed up and he had p**sed off.' I remember him saying, 'If we don't do this, you'll be really disappointed. You were born to do this' Anonymous victim Despite his ordeal, Michael never received any of the money he had been promised. His counsellor gave him an ultimatum - either Michael had to go to the police, or they would - so eventually he told them everything. The subsequent police raid in 2021 uncovered hours of gruesome footage dating back seven years. No choice But while Marius did put pressure on his victims to undergo castration, many hold zero regrets about what they went through. Unable to go through the NHS, Marius was the only way they could overcome their feelings of self-hatred. One anonymous man who spoke to Theroux told of how for a long time he had struggled with his sexuality, harbouring a deep desire to rid himself of his testicals. After joining the website and having a few meetings with Marius, he agreed to have a testicle removed. 15 Retired chemist Peter Wates removed a man's testicle in a hotel room, while Gustavson filmed Credit: Metropolitan Police 15 Damien Byrnes, 36, from Tottenham, was sentenced to five years in prison Credit: PA 15 HMP Wandsworth, where Gustavson was held after pleading guilty Credit: Getty 'He never did anything against my will, but he did put pressure on me,' he said. 'I remember him saying, 'If we don't do this, you'll be really disappointed. You were born to do this.'' He later met with Marius and an accomplice called Peter Wates to finish the job. 'I was delighted,' he continued. 'I have an enduring sense of gratitude to Marius for helping me reach a position that medically in the UK isn't possible.' Edward, who was castrated in 2017, had originally been sympathetic towards Marius. But this sympathy evaporated after he attended the sentencing. 'I shall always worry that Marius used a video of my procedure to persuade someone else to do something they didn't really want to do,' he said. Marius himself had earned over £300,000 from his website. He was charged with multiple counts of grievous bodily harm, possession of extreme pornography, and for making an indecent image of a child. The court sentenced him to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 22 years. The botched operations nearly led to the deaths of three men, with the judge describing his actions as little short of human butchery. A further nine accomplices were also charged and sentenced. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Council backs Palestine Action motion against own legal advice
A council in Northern Ireland has gone against its own legal advice and voted to call for charges to be dropped against people arrested for supporting the newly-banned group, Palestine City and Strabane District Council is understood to be one of the first local authorities in the UK to back such a government proscribed Palestine Action earlier this month under the Terrorism Act following a break-in at an RAF base, with membership carrying a maximum jail term of 14 of people have been arrested for carrying placards supporting the group, including an elderly female vicar and an 81-year-old former magistrate. More than 100 people protesting the decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terror group have been held across the in support of the pro-Palestine activist group took place in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and Truro, in Cornwall, on Metropolitan Police said 55 people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action, at the largest demonstration in Action lobbies against Israeli-linked businesses in the UK and accuses the British government of complicitity in genocide in Gaza. 'Reap the whirlwind' The motion calling for charges against the arrested supporters of Palestine Action to be dropped was passed by Derry City and Strabane District Council on Wednesday. That was despite the advice of the city solicitor, Philip Kingston, and chief executive John Kelpie, who told councillors that a section of the motion calling for the charges to be dropped "must come out".The Sinn Féin Mayor Ruairí McHugh said he would allow the motion in its entirety and it was carried with support of his party, the SDLP, People Before Profit and some independents. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) voted motion also calls for the ban to be lifted, but as this was enacted by the Westminster Parliament, it would have to be repealed by that body. People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin, who proposed the motion, said tens of thousands of people had been "killed and slaughtered" in Gaza and Palestinian children were being "starved to death".The government, he said, were "complicit in this" and would "reap the whirlwind".He said the banning of Palestine Action was a "ridiculous use of legislation" which could end up in peaceful people being put in councillor Gary Donnelly said the ban was an attempt to "scare the life out of people" and "scare them off the streets", while Catherine McDaid, of the SDLP, described the legislation as "the slippery slope"."If you go out and oppose genocide, you are going to be done for supporting a terrorist organisation," she DUP councillor Niree McMorris said it was "absurd" for the council to go against their own legal advice.
