Miles Cross, 33, has admitted to assisting suicide by selling a chemical online through a pro-suicide forum. He established a business under a pseudonym, joining the forum in July 2024 and posting a QR code for payment.
Cross received £100 from four individuals and sent them the chemical via post, tragically resulting in two deaths. In the UK, assisting suicide is illegal under the Suicide Act 1961.
This prosecution follows a report by the Molly Rose Foundation (MRF) detailing concerns raised by coroners to three Government departments regarding suicide forums and a specific poisonous substance promoted on one such forum. This substance is believed to be linked to over 130 UK deaths, with the youngest victim being 13.
The MRF has welcomed Cross's prosecution but is urging Ofcom to take immediate action to shut down these sites permanently, citing that the forum remains active for UK users and deaths have continued despite a geo-block. When police searched Cross's home in January 2025, they found quantities of the chemical and related items, and analysis of his devices linked him to the forum and financial transactions.
He pleaded guilty to four charges of intentionally encouraging or assisting suicide by providing a chemical compound at Mold Crown Court. Detective Superintendent Chris Bell stated that Cross exploited vulnerable individuals for financial gain, and the admission is hoped to bring some peace to the victims' families.
The Crown Prosecution Service highlighted that Cross preyed on distressed individuals, knowingly providing a substance to end lives for profit, making it easily accessible online. The Mirror's investigation into the sale and promotion of the poison via the pro-suicide forum, in partnership with the MRF and bereaved families, has called for a ban on the forum and the substance.
Ofcom launched its first investigation under the Online Safety Act concerning this forum in April 2025. While the site implemented a geo-block for UK users, it initially provided instructions on how to bypass it.
Ofcom has since stated that this messaging has been removed, but the investigation remains ongoing to ensure the block is maintained and the forum does not encourage users to circumvent it. This case is set against the backdrop of investigations into alleged global digital harms, including the case of Kenneth Law in Canada, who is awaiting trial for allegedly sending deadly poison packages worldwide via pro-suicide sites.
The National Crime Agency is investigating potential criminal offenses linked to UK deaths from items purchased from Canadian websites. A government spokesperson emphasized that under the Online Safety Act, online services have responsibilities to protect users from illegal suicide and self-harm content, with substantial fines for non-compliance.
The substance in question is monitored, and retailers are required to report suspected sales for harmful purposes.
