London, May 11: Marius Gustavson, a 46-year-old Norwegian who led a gang performing extreme body modifications such as removing penis or testicles of men who had consented, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years. Gustavson, self-styled as the “eunuch maker”, streamed the mutilations online for paying customers.

According to a BBC report, Gustavson admitted to offences, including five counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. His pay-per-view website, which advertised services such as limb freezing, earned him £300,000 (Rs 3.13 crore) from 22,841 global visitors. UK Shocker: Sri-Lankan Origin 16-Year-Old Boy Dies By Suicide After Being Blackmailed By Nigerian Scammer Over Nude Photos.

The videos showed Gustavson and his accomplices performing extreme body modifications on volunteers, some as young as 16, in hotel rooms and flats in London. Gustavson’s legal team argued that he only wanted to “put a smile” on the faces of those suffering from body integrity dysphoria (BID), like him. UK Shocker: Student Dies Using Two to Three 'Big Bottles' of Laughing Gas Everyday.

However, prosecutors accused Gustavson of carrying out “human butchery” for sexual rather than psychiatric reasons. Barrister Caroline Carberry KC stated that Gustavson’s diagnosis, if it exists, may explain why he mutilated his own body, but not why he made a lucrative business out of mutilating others.

The prosecution also claimed there was “clear evidence” of cannibalism by Gustavson. His network was dismantled by a brave victim who provided the police with a USB stick containing 5,000 WhatsApp messages, 100 images, and several videos.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 11, 2024 03:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).