A man alleged to have led an extreme modifications group had to have his leg amputated after it was frozen by another man.
Marius Gustavson, 45, from Haringey, is alleged to have led a wide-ranging conspiracy involving up to 29 offences of extreme body modifications on 13 victims.
Yesterday (May 31), Jacob Crimi-Appleby, 22, from Epsom in Surrey, admitted to freezing Gustavson’s leg in February 2019.
He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the 45-year-old at the Old Bailey.
Gustavson, who is originally from Norway, is alleged to have been the ringleader of a group that removed and traded in body parts, while uploading videos of the body modifications.
The Haringey resident pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to three men on dates in 2018 and 2019.
The charges relate to the alleged clamping and splitting of the genitals of the men, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Gustavson, who appeared in court by video link from custody, admitted separate charges of making and distributing indecent videos of a child.
He was not asked to enter pleas on other charges including conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.
Two more men previously admitted removing other body parts belonging Gustavson, who is accused of carrying out castrations and broadcasting the footage on his “eunuch maker” website.
Damien Byrnes, 35, from Tottenham, admitted removing Gustavson’s penis.
Nurse Nathan Arnold, 48, from South Kensington, admitted the partial removal of Gustavson’s nipple, stealing anaesthetic from the hospital where he worked and possessing extreme pornography.
Gustavson’s alleged “right-hand man”, Peter Wates, 66, from Croydon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm between January 1 2016 and January 1 2022.
Four other defendants who appeared by video link and in the dock of the Old Bailey were not asked to enter pleas to charges on the 13-count indictment.
The body modification procedures were allegedly filmed and uploaded to the “eunuch maker” website Gustavson ran, and subscribers paid to watch.
The defendants are said to have been part of a society in which people willingly undergo extreme body modification.
The practice is linked to a subculture where men become “nullos” – short for genital nullification – by having their penis and testicles removed.
A provisional trial of up to eight weeks has been set at the Old Bailey from March 4 next year.
Some reporting by PA.
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