In a case that has sent shockwaves through both the religious and legal communities, a retired Church of England vicar has been sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in an extreme body modification ring tied to the notorious "Eunuch Maker." Geoffrey Baulcomb, 79, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, appeared at the Old Bailey on September 1, 2025, where he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent after a disturbing incident in January 2020. The court proceedings laid bare a world of underground surgeries, disturbing online communities, and a dramatic fall from grace for a once-respected clergyman.
According to Sky News, Baulcomb's crimes came to light after a nine-second video surfaced, showing him using nail scissors to perform a body modification procedure on a man's penis. The video, found on Baulcomb's mobile phone during a police raid in December 2022, was a key piece of evidence in the prosecution's case. The raid also uncovered surgical tools, medical supplies, drugs—including crystal meth and ketamine—and a Burdizzo clamp, a device typically used for castration in livestock, further illustrating the seriousness of the activities taking place in Baulcomb's home.
The investigation revealed Baulcomb's close association with Norwegian national Marius Gustavson, infamously known online as the "Eunuch Maker." Gustavson, who was jailed for life in 2024 with a minimum term of 22 years, ran a website where thousands of users paid to watch extreme body modification procedures, including castrations. Prosecutors stated that Baulcomb and Gustavson exchanged more than 10,000 messages between 2015 and 2022, and Baulcomb was a subscriber to Gustavson's site. Some of the extreme material found on Baulcomb's devices originated from Gustavson's platform, according to BBC News.
The court heard that Baulcomb was not merely a passive observer. He performed the procedure on January 4, 2020, and admitted to causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He also pleaded guilty to seven additional charges, including possessing extreme pornography and making and distributing indecent images of children. Among the most serious of these was the distribution of an indecent video of a 16-year-old being harmed by Gustavson to a co-defendant, David Carruthers.
During the police search of his Eastbourne home, Baulcomb attempted to destroy evidence by submerging his iPhone in a toilet. However, officers were able to recover the device and extract incriminating material. The evidence linked Baulcomb to other defendants and victims involved in the body modification ring, as reported by The Independent.
Baulcomb's defense, presented by barrister Matthew Gowen, emphasized that the procedure involved only "two small cuts" and not the removal of body parts. Gowen stated that Baulcomb had previously performed the same procedure on himself without adverse effects and that the victim was a consenting adult who described the night as "fun and very enjoyable." The drugs consumed during the event were brought by the victim, and there was no evidence to suggest Baulcomb coerced or plied the victim with substances.
Despite these mitigating arguments, Judge Mark Lucraft KC was unequivocal in his assessment of the case. He stated, "The procedure and resulting injury is something that is serious. It is an aggravating feature that the procedure was filmed, bearing in mind the obvious sexual nature of this offence." The judge further remarked, "When interviewed, you sought to distance yourself from what was done and downplay the significance of your offending. You sought to minimise the potential for harm of what you were doing. As I observed over the course of this hearing, the extreme pornographic images here are concerning." Baulcomb was sentenced to two years and six months for the GBH offence, with a further six months for the indecent images offences, bringing the total sentence to three years.
Baulcomb's fall from grace was steep. He retired from full-time ministry in 2003 but continued to serve the church in a limited capacity, ministering at St Mary the Virgin in Eastbourne. The Diocese of Chichester confirmed that Baulcomb applied for "permission to officiate" upon moving to Sussex, allowing him to conduct services in retirement. However, after police discovered drugs at his home in December 2022, the Bishop of Chichester immediately revoked his permission to officiate. Bail conditions subsequently barred Baulcomb from attending church or entering Church of England premises, and a tribunal in 2024 banned him for life from exercising his Holy Orders.
The case also shed light on the disturbing "nullos" subculture, a community where men seek genital nullification—removal of the penis and testicles—often through amateur surgical procedures. According to Sky News, Gustavson orchestrated nearly 30 such procedures, recruiting unqualified individuals to perform surgeries described by the sentencing judge as "little short of human butchery." The court even heard evidence of cannibalism, with Gustavson reportedly cooking and eating testicles in a salad. The ring's "cult-like" atmosphere and the life-changing injuries inflicted on victims underscored the extreme risks and psychological complexities involved.
Baulcomb's defense highlighted his previously unblemished record and his reputation as a caring figure in both the church and the wider community. "A number of people have known Mr Baulcomb for a considerable period of time. Those that have known him within the church environment know of the good work, the exemplary work he has done, not just as a vicar but also in the wider community," said Gowen in court, as reported by The Independent. Yet, as the judge noted, "these offences have eroded his reputation in his church and his family. That is a consequence of his actions but it is something he has struggled with and continues to struggle with."
For many, the case raises difficult questions about consent, responsibility, and the dark corners of online communities. The fact that a trusted religious leader was involved in such activities has left many in the church and the public grappling with feelings of betrayal and disbelief. The Church of England, for its part, has moved swiftly to distance itself, with the Diocese of Chichester stressing that Baulcomb was immediately barred from any clerical duties once the allegations came to light.
As the dust settles on this disturbing saga, the story of Geoffrey Baulcomb serves as a stark reminder that even those in positions of trust are not immune to the most troubling impulses—and that the consequences, both legal and personal, can be devastating.
