Man jailed for selling assisted suicide chemicals online

A man who sold chemicals online to help people kill themselves has been jailed after what is thought to be the first investigation of its kind.

Miles Cross, 33, admitted four counts of intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting suicide and was jailed for 14 years.

Cross, from Wrexham, admitted sending a fatal chemical to four people between August and September 2024 who he had met on an online forum.

One of the four people, 29-year-old Shubreet Singh, from Leeds, who paid £100 for a package, has since died.

North Wales Police raided Cross's home in January 2025 after Thames Valley Police, who were investigating another case of suicide, came across his name during "financial investigations".

At his home officers found quantities of the same chemical he had sent through the post along with other paraphernalia.

Sentencing Cross, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: "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 court heard from the prosecution who said Cross advertised the drugs on an online forum which discussed suicide and suicide methods, with anyone wishing to join having to provide a detailed explanation about their reasons.

The court also heard that the encouragement of suicide is not permitted and sale of drugs is not permitted.

The prosecution said Cross supplied the chemicals to those who asked for them, at a cost of £100, adding that the offence involved a financial benefit.

The prosecution went on to say he had joined the forum to research methods for his own use after suffering from "emotional deterioration" which led to gambling, alcohol and sedative use.

Cross described the forum as "a bible", telling probation officers he had sourced the chemicals before receiving two tubs of a substance which he would use to "help others end their lives".

The prosecution did not accept this, adding that Cross had set up his venture and bought the substance before he joined the forum.

They said he also ordered other drugs which have also been linked to suicide.

When he joined the forum, the prosecution said Cross posted a message and a picture of the chemicals saying he "finally had everything".

He also said things were "on my terms now" and that it was the "only relief I've had in a long time".

By 2 August 2024, Cross had opened an account on the website where he directed the victims to pay him for the chemicals, according to the prosecution.

He had also purchased 100 zip foil bags, which were later recovered by police at his property. Four of the bags were missing.

All four packages sent had Cross's return address on them and one of the foil bags was found at the scene of Singh's death.

On her phone, there was a screenshot of a conversation between her and Cross where he asked if she needed help sourcing the drug, to which she replied that she did.

Another screenshot showed that she had made a payment to him.

In the days leading up to Singh's death, the pair exchanged messages talking about their "last meal".

Evidence suggests Singh died after taking the chemicals on 1 September, but she was not discovered until two days later.

Cross received a £100 payment into his account after another person, in respect of count one, became suicidal and began researching online.

Cross sent them a QR code and said he could provide the kit.

The court also heard about another victim, who purchased a chemical compound from Cross.

The father of the person who bought the drug went missing and his body was found weeks later.

He had taken his own life using the chemical compound which had been purchased from Cross.

Another victim, said she had bought a chemical but threw it away after feeling she was " in a better place".

In her victim impact statement, she said it had been "too easy" to obtain the chemical and she had "panicked" before eventually putting the substance in the toilet.

Cross was arrested on 13 January 2025 with two 1kg (0.15st) tubs of the chemical found in his property. One was unopened and the other had about 300g (0.7lbs) remaining.

Since his arrest, one of the people who bought packages from Cross has spoken out to warn others who may be vulnerable to seek help from professionals instead of using online forums.

The individual, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said when they purchased the substance they felt "vulnerable, overwhelmed and struggled silently".

"This experience caused me significant emotional pain.

"I am no longer in that state of mind, but I have had to work hard to heal and move forward in a healthier direction.

"The fact this was so easy makes me think, had I not come to my senses, I wouldn't be where I am today," they added.

The individual said: "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.

"I hope my words can be used to support others and to ensure safety for those who might be in similar situations."

Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans said the force hoped that the sentencing would "alert vulnerable people to predators" like Cross.

"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," he said.

North Wales Police worked alongside Ofcom to close down the forum used by Cross to search for victims.

The force added that experts were also brought in from the National Crime Agency and the NHS, and it also spoke with Samaritans and Ofcom "who have been successful in reducing people's access to certain forums where we think people could be harmed".