Several men accused of mutilating others and posting castration videos of their victims online have appeared in a London court as part of the preliminary investigation into the case.

The accused also Marius Gustafson, 45, who is considered the “brain” of the network. The perpetrators subjected 13 people to “extreme physical modifications”, including Gustafsson himself. They filmed and traded body parts and posted videos of their genitals online.

Gustafsson, who is originally from Norway but lives in north London, pleaded not guilty. He denies causing grievous bodily harm to the three men between 2018 and 2019.

A total of nine people were arrested in London, Scotland and South Wales. Their victims, who for legal reasons cannot be named, had their genitals mostly removed.

Another defendant, Mr. Jacob Crimmy-Appleby, 22, pleaded guilty, admitting to frostbite on Gustafsson’s leg, which led to his amputation. Last month, two other men admitted to removing Gustafsson’s genitals and nipples. Its main partner Mr. Peter WaitsThe 66-year-old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

British police believe that Gustafsson was the leader of this group, which filmed the mutilations and posted the footage on a website. Subscribers paid to see them.

The case is expected to go to trial in March 2024.