Jailed: Paedophile banker who embarked on Breaking Bad drug-dealing spree after cancer diagnosis

David Parkinson: Quit his career as a banker to deal drugs
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A banker who went on a Breaking Bad-style descent into crystal meth dealing after being diagnosed with cancer has been jailed for 11 years.

David Parkinson, 34, ditched his career in finance to sell party drugs including cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, and crystal meth for so-called chemsex parties.

He employed his mother Diane, 57, to manage the burgeoning business from his home in Preston, making regular trips to London to meet their drug supplier.

Parkinson kept detailed accounts in accountancy ledgers of the drug operation, working out a pricing structure and expected profit margins.

But he was exposed in April last year when he was caught leaving the Park Plaza Hotel on London's Embankment with a bag of £10,000-worth of crystal meth.

Jailed: David Parkinson

Detectives then caught his mother red-handed at Parkinson's home office with a box of bagged-up powders ready for sale under the desk and £4,590 in cash.

Parkinson's pink iPhone had messages revealing the extent of their illicit operation, and also exposed him as a paedophile who had sexual contact with two 13-year-old boys.

At Inner London crown court on Monday, Parkinson was jailed for six years for a string of drug offences and an extra five years for the child sex offences.

Judge Michael Wood QC jailed Diane Parkinson for three years and four months for her part of the drug-dealing operation.

Prosecutor Mathew Turner said Parkinson had given up his career in finance, having worked as a banker in Australia, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2007.

The court was told that by the time police caught him, he had "an efficient, well-organised, and lucrative operation to supply various controlled drugs".

Breaking Bad tells the story of teacher Walter White, right, who deals drugs after being diagnosed with cancer ( Frank Ockenfels/AMC)
AMC

In the hit TV show Breaking Bad, chemistry teacher Walter White turns to dealing crystal meth when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

"The enterprise was run, in effect, as a small business", Mr Turner told the court.

"David Parkinson was the central figure in the operation, and his role was greater than that of Diane Parkinson.

"She initially began by helping her son and was paid a modest wage for this, however, as time went on she became more involved.

"By the time of their arrests, David Parkinson was being closely assisted by his mother in all aspects of the dealing, including negotiating prices for purchasing drugs, collecting the drugs and bagging them up, and selling and delivery."

When he was stopped in London, on April 15 last year, a detective asked if he had any drugs and Parkinson admitted having 45g of "Tina" - a nickname for crystal meth - of 98 per cent purity and with a street value of £9,500.

The officer also found a handwritten ledger with types of drugs, quantities, prices, and expected profit margins.

Texts led police to Parkinson's Preston home when they found drugs bags, scales, and cuttings agent in the spare bedroom and around £7,000 MDMA, M-KAT, ketamine, amphetamines, and GBL.

"This mix of drugs, both controlled and not controlled, was consistent with their use at what is known as ChemSex parties", said Mr Turner.

"As the name implies, these are gatherings where participants use drugs during casual sex."

Diane Parkinson claimed she believed the drugs were all legal highs, but has since admitted a string of drug offences.

The court also heard Parkinson had met a 13-year-old boy through gay dating app Grindr, exchanging intimate pictures and then meeting up for sex.

He filmed one of their sexual encounters on his iPhone and videoed himself kissing the boy.

Parkinson admits the encounters with the boy but said he did not know he was aged under 16 at the time.

He also admitted giving a second 13-year-old boy money, alcohol, and cigarettes in exchange for sex. Parkinson again said he thought the boy was 16, though he admitted finding out he could be younger.

Parkinson, of Leyland Lane, Leyland, in Preston, pleaded guilty to nine counts of conspiracy to supply class A, B, and C drugs, arranging a child sex offence, and paying for the sexual services of a child.

Diane Parkinson, of Warren Grove, in Morecambe, pleaded guilty to nine counts of possession of class A, B, and C drugs with intent to supply, and one charge of possession of criminal property.

Parkinson was issued with a sexual harm prevention order for when he is released from prison.

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