Wrexham man jailed for selling assisted suicide chemicals online

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

Miles Cross, 33, Admitted four counts of intentionally committing an act that might encourage or assist suicide and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

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

Shubreet Singh, 29, one of four men from Leeds who paid £100 for a parcel, has since died. Police found messages between him and Cross on his phone, as well as a foil bag with Cross’s sender address written on it.

North Wales Police raided Cross’s home in January 2025 after Thames Valley Police, who were investigating another suicide, came across his name during “financial investigations”.

Officers found the same chemical he had sent in the mail along with other supplies at his home.

Sentencing Cross, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: “This is a rare and extremely serious case involving your reference. [a substance] To people who are experiencing distress and are in contact with you on a suicide forum.

“Two people died tragically as a result of your actions.”

He said the fact that Cross did not know any of the buyers and how vulnerable they were was a “serious aggravating feature”.

Rowlands added that the police investigation was thorough and he hoped the sentence would be a warning to others.

The court heard prosecutor Nick Johnson KC said Cross had advertised the drugs on an online forum where suicide and suicide methods were discussed and that anyone wishing to join would have to give a detailed explanation of their reasons for doing so.

The court also heard that encouraging suicide and selling drugs were prohibited.

Johnson said Cross supplied the chemicals to those who wanted them for £100 and that the crime involved a financial benefit.

Johnson said Cross joined the forum to investigate his own use of drugs after experiencing “emotional disruption” that led to his use of gambling, alcohol and tranquilizers.

Cross described the forum as “a bible” and told parole officers that he had procured the chemicals before receiving two vials of the substance that he would use to “help others end their lives.”

The prosecution did not accept this and added that Cross set up his enterprise and purchased the substance before joining the forum.

They said he also ordered other drugs linked to suicide.

The prosecution said that when Cross joined the forum, he posted a message saying he “finally had it all” and a picture of the chemicals.

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

According to the prosecution, Cross opened an account on the website as of August 2, 2024, directing victims to pay him for the chemicals.

He had also purchased 100 zippered foil bags, which were later seized from his property by police. 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.

He had a screenshot of a conversation on his phone between him and Cross, in which Cross asked if he needed help getting the medication, and Cross replied that he did.

Another screenshot showed him paying her.

In the days leading up to Singh’s death, the two exchanged messages mentioning their “last meal” and also sent him a calendar with two days of instructions on how to take the medication.

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

Rowlands said the messages between the pair were “deeply disturbing” and she knew it was his intention to receive it.

Cross received a £100 payment into his account after another man became suicidal and began searching online.

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

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

The father of the person who took the drugs disappeared, and his body was found weeks later.

He took his own life using a chemical compound purchased from Cross.

Another victim said he bought a chemical but threw it away when he felt he was in a “better place.”

In her victim impact statement, she said the chemical was “very easy” to obtain and that she “panicked” before flushing the substance down the toilet.

Cross was arrested on January 13, 2025, with two 1kg (0.15th) tubes of chemicals found on his property. One was unopened and the other had about 300 grams (0.7 lbs) left.

One of the people who bought packages from Cross since his arrest has spoken out to warn others who may be vulnerable to seek help from professionals rather than using online forums.

The person, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he felt “vulnerable, overwhelmed and silently struggling” when he bought the substance.

“This experience caused me significant emotional pain.

“I’m not in that mood anymore, but I’ve had to work hard to heal and move in a healthier direction.

“The fact that it was so easy makes me think: If I hadn’t come to my senses, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” they added.

The person said: “Although he did not know me and did not fully understand the impact of his actions, the substance he advertised, sold and sent to me could have ended my life and seriously affected my family.

“I hope my words can be used to support others and ensure the safety of those who may be in a similar situation.”

Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Evans said the force hoped the sentence would “warn vulnerable people” like Cross to predators.

“This was a unique investigation and I believe it is the first investigation of its kind in the UK involving someone using an online forum to target vulnerable people,” he said.

Alison Storey, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Miles Cross preyed on four men in distress and knowingly supplied them with a substance that would end their lives.

“His actions were motivated by financial gain and made the process of ordering the chemical online easy and accessible. This case is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by those seeking to exploit vulnerable individuals online.”

North Wales Police worked with Ofcom to shut down the forum Cross used to call victims.

The force added that experts had also been brought in from the National Crime Agency and the NHS, and had also met with the Samaritans and Ofcom, “who have been successful in reducing people’s access to certain forums where we think they may be harmed”.

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