A British man who assisted suic!de by selling a lethal substance to vulnerable people has been jailed for 14 years in a rare prosecution in the United Kingdom. Miles Cross, 33, from Wrexham in north Wales, was sentenced on Wednesday, January 7, after pleading guilty in November to four criminal charges connected to encouraging or assisting suic!de. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, two people died after taking the substance he supplied. The case comes at a sensitive time in Britain, following moves by lawmakers last year to advance controversial legislation that would allow assisted dying for terminally ill adults with less than six months to live. That bill, however, is still subject to further parliamentary approval and does not legalise assisted suic!de in general. Court proceedings heard that Cross set up a business and began selling an unspecified chemical compound via an online discussion forum after joining it in July 2024. Using a pseudonym, he shared a QR code linked to his bank account, allowing buyers to order and pay directly. Cross received 100 from each of four individuals and sent the substance to them through the UK postal service. Police later raided his home in January 2025, where they found containers of the chemical and related materials. In a statement read to the court, one buyer described their vulnerability at the time of purchase, saying they had felt vulnerable, overwhelmed and struggled silently before ordering the substance. Had I not come to my senses, I wouldnt be where I am today, the individual said, adding that the ease of access made it feel like vulnerable people were being targeted. Cross pleaded guilty on November 18 to four offences of encouraging or assisting the suic!de of another person, contrary to the Suic!de Act 1961. Specialist CPS prosecutor Alison Storey said Cross had preyed on four people in a distressed state and stressed that his actions were carried out for financial gain. She described the case as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by those who seek to exploit vulnerable individuals online, adding that prosecutors would continue to pursue anyone who illegally encourages or assists suic!de. The CPS will always aim to hold offenders to account when they unlawfully seek to encourage or assist a suic!de, she said..
0 Comments