'Eunuch-maker' case: Male escort jailed for removing man's genitals

A male escort who cut off a consenting man's genitals and filmed the procedure for a pay-per-view website has been jailed for five years.

Damien Byrnes, 36, removed Marius Gustavson's penis and testicles with a kitchen knife in February 2017.

Byrnes, along with Jacob Crimi-Appleby, 23, and Nathaniel Arnold, 48, pleaded guilty to causing GBH with intent.

Crimi-Appleby froze Gustavson's leg in dry ice, leading to its amputation, while Arnold part-removed a nipple.

Crimi-Appleby was jailed for three years and eight months. Arnold was given a two-year suspended prison sentence.

Warning: Contains graphic and disturbing descriptions

The Old Bailey had previously heard the procedure carried out by Byrnes is linked to a subculture where men become "nullos" - short for genital nullification - by having their penis and testicles removed.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC said Byrnes, from Tottenham in north London, was among 10 people charged with taking part in extreme body modifications.

She told the court Byrnes was hired by Gustavson, who called himself "the eunuch-maker" and had been involved in "numerous" extreme body-modification procedures including the removal of other men's genitals.

Gustavson previously admitted charges including conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, and will be sentenced separately in March.

Ms Carberry told the court that in December 2016 Byrnes "readily agreed" to mutilate Gustavson for £500 knowing it would be filmed for the website, but Gustavson reduced the payment to £50.

Before the procedure, Byrnes said to Gustavson: "I have no issue with it but won't you lose a lot of blood, like nearly die?"

Gustavson went on to tell him he would be anaesthetised and tied down and instructed Byrnes on what to do, the court heard.

During the video, Byrnes could be heard saying: "Well that's one off the bucket list. I never expected that one."

Graphic film of the mutilation was not shown in court but was described by Ms Carberry, who said after Byrnes left, Gustavson called 999.

The court heard Gustavson was treated in hospital and discharged after a couple of days with a referral for a psychiatric assessment.

When Byrnes did not receive payment, he threatened to go to the police, the court heard, but Gustavson responded by saying he would report him for threats, blackmail and mutilation.

Over a period of two years, Gustavson paid Byrnes sums totalling more than £1,500, the court was told.

Crimi-Appleby, 23, from Epsom in Surrey, admitted freezing Gustavson's leg, in February 2019.

During the trial, the court was shown a video of Gustavson with his leg in a bucket of dry ice, with Crimi-Appleby adding more.

Gustavson, who now uses a wheelchair, received about £18,000 in benefits payments afterwards, the court heard.

Nathan Arnold, a 48-year-old nurse from South Kensington in west London, admitted mutilating one of Gustavson's nipples, in the summer of 2019.

He also pleaded guilty to theft for stealing anaesthetic between 2016 and 2022 from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where he had worked, and pleaded guilty to possession of extreme pornography.

After his arrest in 2022, Byrnes admitted what he had done and said he was in financial difficulty and had vomited after cutting off Gustavson's genitals.

Lisa Bald told the court her client Byrnes was "appalled and ashamed" by what he had done.

Mitigating for Arnold, Neil Griffin described him as a compassionate, gentle, mild-mannered and respectful nurse who committed the offences while experiencing hypomania as part of his bipolar disorder.

Sean Poulier argued his client Crimi-Appleby had been "seduced" by the older Gustavson after falling down a "rabbit hole" online.

The Met Police said as part of its investigation officers "watched hours of distressing footage, travelled across the UK to search for victims and witnesses, and liaised with UK and overseas police forces to bring the men to justice".

The force encouraged "anyone who has similar experiences" to seek medical advice from their GP and contact police, quoting Operation Vicktor.

Kate Mulholland, the Crown Prosecution Service specialist prosecutor for London, said: "Consent is not a defence to the illegal surgical procedures the men willingly took part in to remove their ringleader's penis, leg and nipple, in non-sterile and on occasion life-threatening circumstances."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk