Wrexham man sentenced to 14 years over online assisted suicide offences
A 33-year-old man from Wrexham has been jailed for assisting and encouraging the suicide of others.
Miles Cross, of Wrexham city, was sentenced to 14 years in prison at Mold Crown Court, today, Wednesday, 7 January, after admitting four counts of intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide of another, contrary to Section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961.
The court heard that two deaths in the UK were linked to Cross, who was selling a substance to vulnerable people on an online forum.
North Wales Police began an investigation in October 2024 after being notified by Thames Valley Police of the suspected suicide of a man in their force area.
The man had been reported missing several weeks earlier.
Financial enquiries carried out by Thames Valley Police identified that Cross had received £100 in exchange for a substance suspected to be linked to the man’s death.
Further investigation by North Wales Police found that Cross had sold packages to a total of four victims. Officers said he had been engaging with people at their most vulnerable and encouraging them to take their own lives.
One of the victims, who Cross had been in close communication with online, later took her own life.
It was also confirmed that the man who died in the Thames Valley area had used one of the packages Cross had sent to another victim.
Police said two of the four packages sold were never used.
The online forum used by Cross was later subject to Ofcom’s first investigation under the Online Safety Act, which began in April 2025.
Through work with the National Crime Agency, which was liaising with Ofcom, officers shared information from the criminal investigation that contributed to the regulator’s enquiries into the forum.
The US-based site subsequently responded to Ofcom enforcement proceedings by implementing a geo-block to restrict access by people with UK IP addresses.
Ofcom said its investigation is continuing as a priority.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Chris Bell said: “Today’s sentence reflects the severity of Cross’ offending, as he preyed on his victims online and exploited them in their most desperate moments, profiting off their vulnerability and mental wellbeing.
“Instead of assisting them to seek support, he proactively encouraged them to end their lives and provided them with a means to do so, which tragically and needlessly resulted in two deaths.
“I want to acknowledge the courage of each of the survivors who played an integral part in this complex investigation during such difficult circumstances, and the devastating impact it has had on the lives of the family and friends of the two people who tragically lost their lives.
“Working closely with the survivors enabled my investigation team to secure a successful prosecution against Cross, which we believe to be the first of its kind in the UK, involving the online forum he was using.
“Safeguarding vulnerable people is a priority for North Wales Police, and we continue to work closely with partner agencies to provide support, prevent harm wherever possible and relentlessly pursue anybody who seeks to assist or encourage anyone to take their own life.
“I want to thank my team who built a comprehensive and compelling case that resulted in Cross admitting all four offences, and a number of key partners to which we are grateful, including the Crown Prosecution Service, the National Crime Agency, colleagues from other forces and Public Health Wales.
“If you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help is out there. Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to face it alone.”
The impact of suicide reaches far and wide.
Samaritans can be contacted free on 116 123, by email at [email protected], or via samaritans.org.
Anyone affected by suicide in Wales can also contact the suicide bereavement service, NALS National Advisory Liaison Service, via nals.cymru.
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