Marius Gustavson, the leader of a notorious extreme body modification cult, has been sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison after making over £300,000 from broadcasting gruesome surgeries, including castrations and penis removals, through his pay-per-view website “The Eunuch Maker.” The sentencing took place today at the Old Bailey, following a detailed investigation that revealed the horrific nature of the activities.
Gustavson, 46, was convicted of orchestrating at least 30 illegal surgeries that involved removing body parts of men who were manipulated into participating. These procedures were streamed live to a global audience of 22,000 paying subscribers. Operating out of north London, the group carried out these activities openly on a public website, which allowed unrestricted access to anyone interested.
The investigation unveiled Gustavson as an “arch manipulator” who attracted followers with promises of sexual and financial gratification. He was found to have a freezer full of men’s body parts and had engaged in acts of self-mutilation, including freezing off his own leg and removing his penis, before fraudulently claiming £18,000 in disability benefits.
During the trial, it emerged that Gustavson and his accomplices, who included retired chemist Peter Wates and former surgical assistant David Carruthers, performed these life-altering surgeries in unsafe and non-sterile environments, using tools ranging from standard medical equipment to those used for livestock castration. The impact on the victims was profound, with many suffering severe physical and psychological consequences.
Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, the Recorder of London, described the operation as a “grisly and gruesome enterprise” that was both busy and lucrative. He emphasized the disregard for human safety, stating, “It was a large-scale, dangerous and extremely disturbing enterprise. The motivations of all involved were a mix of sexual gratification as well as financial reward.
The court also heard that the activities had significant sexual overtones and caused immense distress to the participants, some of whom were in acute pain and feared for their lives during the procedures. The judge condemned the actions as “little more than human butchery.”
Gustavson’s arrest and subsequent trial shed light on a dark subculture of extreme body modification where individuals seek to become ‘nulls’—people who have undergone genital nullification. Despite the participants’ claims of identifying as eunuchs and insisting on the procedures due to personal desires, the court ruled that consent was not a defence for the crimes committed.
The case has prompted discussions about the need for legislative review regarding body autonomy and modification practices, which remain largely unregulated in many parts of the world.
As Gustavson begins his sentence, the police continue to investigate the full extent of his network and the possible existence of more victims. A confiscation hearing to address the financial aspects of the crimes is scheduled for January next year.
