05-06-2025
Warning over poison bought online that killed eight
A coroner has issued a warning over websites that give suicide advice after eight people were killed by a poison they bought online.
Police have traced 85 people in the UK and Europe who had either died after taking the unnamed chemical which turned out to be poison or had purchased it with a view to ending their lives.
Details of the deaths emerged in eight separate prevention of future death reports issued on Wednesday by Timothy Brennand, the senior coroner for Manchester West.
In his reports into the 'cluster' of eight deaths in his region, he did not identify the poison except to say it was a food preservative but also 'reportable poison as well as a reportable explosives precursor'.
'The police investigation into one UK based source of supply revealed in 247 cases separate supplies of 500g or less of [REDACTED] to customers in the UK and Europe, police established that 85 of these individuals who were traceable had either died as the consequence of self-ingestion of the substance, or had purchased it with a view to having the means to use this method to end their life in circumstances,' he said.
'Vendors were unaware'
In each of these instances, he said: 'The vendors of [REDACTED] were not aware of this potential misuse of the substance.
'The small quantities being purchased had been incorrectly evaluated to be an increase in individuals pursuing recreational home-curing/food preservations as a hobby, being an artefact of 'lockdown' living following the pandemic.
'Vendors were unaware that their website/details were being distributed as part of internet information platforms designed to aid, abet, assist or promote suicide methods.
'From the specific example of 247 supplies in a 12-month period, police established that 45 purchasers were confirmed as deceased (these deaths were in relation to supplies to UK customers and purchasers from abroad) and only 15 purchases were confirmed to have taken place for legitimate purposes (meat curing etc).'
Mr Brennand also warned about the availability of websites that give advice on how to take your own life.
He wrote: 'The police investigation revealed the ability of members of the public to access a number of websites, primarily created in the US, Canada and Mexico that promoted information as to how to access: a) poisons that could bring about death; b) how, in what way and with what other necessary preparations (in particular antiemetic medications), the poisons should be administered; c) sourcing such poisons/chemicals/medications in the UK and abroad.'
Student Matthew O'Reilly, 18, was discovered collapsed and unresponsive within his locked room at his accommodation in Salford, Greater Manchester, in September 2020. He died from a 'deliberate act of recent self-ingestion', Mr Brennand said.
Samuel Dickenson, 33, died in March 2020 in Wigan having left a suicide note.
Shaun Bass, 23, died in February 2020, in Bolton 'having ingested a significant quantity of [REDACTED] that he had acquired earlier in the month from an internet-based company licensed to sell reportable poisons'. He had suffered from depression and anxiety.
Mathew Price, 37, died in June 2021 at his home in Bolton.
Andrew Brown, 45, was found dead in August 2023 in circumstances that puzzled investigators as his motive still remains 'unclear'.
William Armstrong, 24, purchased the poison on the internet 'from a source in Russia', having shown symptoms of a psychotic illness.
Kelly Walsh, 45, was found dead in February 2021 at home in Atherton, Wigan, having ordered the poison 'from an internet-based supplier in Lithuania'. Her actions were 'deliberate and intentional' and her mental health was declining.
Chantelle Williams, who had a 'complex medical history', first ingested a 'significant but non-fatal' dose of the substance in 2019 and checked into Salford Royal Hospital where she received care.
Twice she managed to order the poison while still on the Keats Ward at the hospital and ingest the poison, with the second incident killing her in May 2020.
Coroner Mr Brennand added: 'The published guidance... does not give specific guidance or suggested training to sellers, particularly [REDACTED] acquired by members of the public, particularly over 'online marketplaces' in circumstances of the purchase on a 'one-off' basis for the means of self-harming.
'While there is a legal duty on persons selling this substance to report 'suspicious' transactions within 24 hours to the Home Office, the purchase of small quantities is being presumed to be connected to the many legitimate uses of the substance (such as food preservation, fertiliser etc) rather than in fact, being evaluated as a member of the public seeking purchase of modest quantities used as their chosen means by which to end life.
'The current Home Office guidance and supporting video, leaflet and posters do not reference [REDACTED] as a specific example of concern and focuses on the phenomenon of 'malicious' misuse and not deliberate misuse in the sense of suicide/self-harm.'
