A man who sold a deadly chemical online to assist suicide has been sentenced to 14 years in prison in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the UK. Miles Cross, 33, pleaded guilty to four counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting suicide at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday.
The court heard that Cross posted packages containing an unnamed fatal chemical to four people he met on a suicide forum in August and September 2024. He charged £100 for the substance, and two of the recipients subsequently took their own lives. Judge Rowlands described the case as 'rare and extremely serious', noting that Cross did not know the victims and exploited their vulnerability.
North Wales Police worked with Ofcom to close UK access to the forum, and consulted the National Crime Agency, NHS, and Samaritans. Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans said the force hoped the sentence would 'alert vulnerable people to predators'. Cross joined the forum after his own 'emotional deterioration' and problems with gambling, alcohol, and sedatives.
Cross was arrested in January 2025 after a raid. Officers found the chemical and evidence linking him to the forum, social media, and a bank account. One victim, 29-year-old Shubreet Singh from Leeds, was named; police found a foil bag with Cross's return address at her home.
The Molly Rose Foundation said the substance has been linked to at least 133 UK deaths. One survivor said: 'The fact this was so easy makes me think, had I not come to my senses, I wouldn’t be where I am today.' Det Supt Chris Bell praised the survivors' courage and urged anyone with suicidal thoughts to seek help.
