A court in the United Kingdom has handed down a significant 14-year prison sentence to a man who exploited vulnerable people online by selling them a lethal chemical to end their lives.
The Crime and the Conviction
Miles Cross, a 33-year-old from Wrexham in north Wales, was sentenced on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. He had earlier pleaded guilty on November 18 to four separate charges of encouraging or assisting the suicide of another person. These charges were brought under the Suicide Act of 1961.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that two of the four individuals who bought the substance from Cross ultimately died after taking it. The court heard that Cross established a business specifically to sell an unspecified chemical compound. He joined an online discussion forum in July 2024 and began using a pseudonym to advertise his deadly product.
How the Online Operation Worked
To facilitate sales and conceal his identity, Cross shared a QR code linked directly to his bank account. This allowed interested buyers to place orders and make payments of £100 each with ease. He then used the United Kingdom's postal service to dispatch the dangerous substance to his customers.
His illegal enterprise was short-lived. Law enforcement authorities raided his home in January 2025. During the search, police discovered containers holding the chemical along with other related materials, providing concrete evidence for the prosecution.
Impact on Victims and Legal Context
A powerful statement from one of the buyers was read aloud in court. The individual described feeling profoundly vulnerable, overwhelmed, and engaged in a silent struggle at the time they sought out the substance. "Had I not come to my senses, I wouldn't be where I am today," the person stated, adding that the frightening ease of access made it feel like vulnerable people were being deliberately targeted.
Specialist CPS prosecutor Alison Storey emphasized that Cross had "preyed on four people in a distressed state" and carried out his actions purely for financial gain. She described the case as a stark warning about the dangers of online predators who seek to exploit those at their lowest point.
This prosecution occurs amid a sensitive national debate in Britain. Parliamentarians last year advanced a controversial bill concerning assisted dying, but it is strictly limited to terminally ill adults with a prognosis of less than six months to live. That proposed legislation, which still requires further parliamentary approval, does not legalise assisted suicide in a general sense, making Cross's actions clearly criminal.
A Firm Message from Prosecutors
Prosecutor Storey concluded by sending a clear message: "The CPS will always aim to hold offenders to account when they unlawfully seek to encourage or assist a suicide." She affirmed that authorities would continue to pursue anyone who illegally engages in such activities, highlighting the commitment to protecting the vulnerable from online exploitation.
