When Miles Cross opened new email and bank accounts and got a new mobile phone, it was to start a business aimed at making him a profit.
But the product he bought in bulk was to be sold with only one purpose.
Cross, 33, has now been jailed for 14 years for selling a chemical that could have been used by those intending to take their own life.
Two people died as a result of his dealing in that chemical.
Cross, from Wrexham, had admitted four counts of intentionally committing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide of another.
He had set up a business selling the chemical through an internet discussion forum and interacted with others on the forum under a pseudonym.
He joined the site in July 2024 and posted a QR code, which allowed people to order the chemical directly from him and pay via his bank account.
Cross received payments of £100 from four people and sent them the chemical through the post.
He was arrested in January last year following a police investigation into sales via the forum to assist with suicide.
Officers found the chemical and other paraphernalia at his address. His devices, which were seized by police, linked Cross to the forum, social media profiles, and the bank account.
One of those he provided the chemical to was 26-year-old Shubhreet Singh. Ms Singh died in West Yorkshire last year.
Among those who are still alive is a woman who said she made the purchase at a time when she felt “vulnerable”.
She said: “Because this person made it so easily available makes me think they preyed on vulnerable people like me.
“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.”
In police interviews, Cross was asked to provide details of anybody who might have received the chemical and who could therefore have been at risk. “Can you assist at all?” he was asked. “No,” he replied.
He later admitted the charges and his prosecution is the first of its kind.
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“I think it’s been surprising that someone would stoop so low as to take advantage of people in such a vulnerable state and seek to profit from them,” said North Wales police assistant chief constable Gareth Evans.
“I would ask anybody in a difficult place or feeling really low or having any sort of suicidal thoughts that accessing specialist help from people at the Samaritans is the way to go and not engaging with the sort of forums where you will find predators like Cross waiting to take advantage of people’s vulnerabilities.”
Alison Storey, senior specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, said: “Miles Cross had obviously targeted people who were vulnerable, who he knew were thinking about suicide.
“He knew nothing about them. He didn’t know whether they would be in a different state of mind if they were given time. Perhaps he didn’t care. He had a profit to make.”
Police say the forum is no longer accessible to regular users in the UK.
Ofcom has said it is continuing its investigation into the forum.
But Andy Burrows, chief executive of Molly Rose Foundation, said: “Miles Cross was able to callously use an online pro-suicide forum to target vulnerable people at risk of taking their own lives and sell them a poisonous substance linked to at least 133 UK deaths.
“Ofcom should act immediately to apply fines and criminal sanctions against the owners of this forum and to deter copycat sites from springing up in its place.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email [email protected] in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
