In a case described as both unique and deeply troubling, Miles Cross, a 33-year-old man from Wrexham, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for selling a lethal chemical online to individuals contemplating suicide. This prosecution, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, has sent shockwaves through law enforcement and mental health communities, highlighting the dangers of online forums and the exploitation of vulnerable people.
Cross’s operation began in July 2024 when, under a pseudonym, he joined an internet discussion forum dedicated to discussions around suicide. According to BBC News, Cross set up new email and bank accounts, purchased a new mobile phone, and established a business model that allowed him to profit from the sale of a fatal chemical. He posted a QR code on the forum, enabling users to order the substance directly from him for £100, with payments funneled into his personal bank account.
Between August and September 2024, Cross sent the chemical to four individuals he met through the forum. Tragically, two people died as a result of using the substance he supplied. One was 29-year-old Shubreet Singh from Leeds, who paid £100 for the package and died on 1 September 2024. Police found messages between Singh and Cross on her phone, including a two-day timetable of instructions he provided for taking the drug. A foil bag bearing Cross’s return address was also recovered at the scene of her death.
The second fatality occurred under particularly distressing circumstances. As reported by Sky News, the father of another individual who had purchased the chemical from Cross discovered and confiscated the package from his son. However, the father later used the substance himself to take his own life. These harrowing incidents underscore the far-reaching and unpredictable consequences of Cross’s actions.
North Wales Police became involved after Thames Valley Police, investigating a suicide in their jurisdiction, linked the supply of the chemical to Cross through financial investigations. A raid on Cross’s home in January 2025 yielded two 1kg tubs of the chemical, one unopened and the other partially used, along with 100 zip foil bags, four of which were missing. Officers also found paraphernalia and digital evidence tying Cross to the forum and his illicit sales.
At Mold Crown Court, Cross admitted four counts of intentionally committing acts capable of encouraging or assisting suicide. He showed no reaction as Judge Rhys Rowlands handed down the 14-year sentence, declaring, “This is a rare and extremely serious case involving you sending [a substance] out to individuals who were distressed and in contact with you in a suicide forum. Tragically two individuals died as a result of your actions.”
The judge emphasized that Cross had no personal connection to any of his victims, making his targeting of vulnerable strangers for financial gain a particularly aggravating factor. Prosecutor Nick Johnson KC added that Cross had advertised the chemical on a forum where anyone wishing to join had to provide detailed explanations for their reasons, and that he supplied the substance to those who asked, making the process “easy and accessible.”
One of the survivors, a woman who purchased the chemical but ultimately did not use it, described her experience in a victim impact statement published by BBC News. She said, “Because this person made it so easily available makes me think they preyed on vulnerable people like me. Although he does not know me and may not fully understand the impact of his actions, the substance he advertised, sold, and sent me could have ended my life and seriously impacted on my family.” She added that the experience had caused her significant emotional pain but that she had since worked hard to heal and move forward, hoping her words would support others in similar situations.
Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans of North Wales Police did not mince words when describing Cross’s behavior. Speaking to Nation.Cymru, he said, “I think it’s important to say that two people have passed away linked to this investigation, and so I would want to be really clear that North Wales Police recognise the dreadful impact this has had on their families and their friends and highlight the seriousness of Cross’s actions. It’s unique to North Wales Police in terms of our experiences, in terms of somebody who has no connection to people with suicidal ideation, using that vulnerability to specifically target them, especially for financial gain, to then go on to supply them with a lethal substance and encourage them to use it.”
Evans also noted the digital element of the case, explaining that Cross directed buyers to the forum via a QR code and encouraged them to follow through with their intentions. He praised the collaborative work between North Wales Police, the National Crime Agency, and Ofcom, which led to the US-based forum being made inaccessible to regular users in the UK. Ofcom confirmed it is continuing its investigation into the forum, while police have urged anyone feeling vulnerable to seek help from organizations like Samaritans rather than turning to online spaces where predators may lurk.
Alison Storey, a senior specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, commented, “Miles Cross had obviously targeted people who were vulnerable, who he knew were thinking about suicide. He knew nothing about them. He didn’t know whether they would be in a different state of mind if they were given time. Perhaps he didn’t care. He had a profit to make.”
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, called for stronger action against such online forums, stating, “Miles Cross was able to callously use an online pro-suicide forum to target vulnerable people at risk of taking their own lives and sell them a poisonous substance linked to at least 133 UK deaths. Ofcom should act immediately to apply fines and criminal sanctions against the owners of this forum and to deter copycat sites from springing up in its place.”
The court heard that Cross himself had suffered from emotional deterioration, gambling, alcohol, and sedative use prior to his involvement in the forum. While he claimed his initial intent was to research methods for his own use, the prosecution argued he set up his venture and bought the substance before joining the forum, indicating premeditation and intent to profit.
Since the sentencing, police and mental health advocates have used the case as a stark warning. Evans concluded, “It has been a unique investigation and I believe it is the first prosecution of its kind in the UK involving someone using an online forum to target vulnerable people. We would encourage anyone in a difficult place or feeling really low or having any sort of suicidal thoughts that accessing specialist help from people at the Samaritans is the way to go and not engaging with the sort of forums where you will find predators like Cross waiting to take advantage of people’s vulnerabilities.”
This landmark case not only brings justice for those affected but also raises urgent questions about the responsibility of online platforms and the need for robust safeguards to protect those most at risk.
