DAVID PARKINSON FROM MORECAMBE AND PRESTON SENTENCED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Morecambe and Preston, David Parkinson, aged 34, has been sentenced to a total of eleven years in prison following his involvement in a sophisticated drug-dealing operation and disturbing child sex offences. The investigation revealed that Parkinson, who previously worked as a banker in Australia, turned to a life of crime after being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2007, abandoning his career to pursue illegal activities.

Parkinson’s descent into criminality was both methodical and well-organized. He shifted from finance to the illicit drug trade, specifically dealing in substances such as cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, and crystal meth, often used at chemsex parties. His operation was managed from his residence in Preston, where he employed his mother, Diane Parkinson, aged 57, to oversee the day-to-day running of the business. The operation was extensive, with Parkinson making regular trips to London to meet with their supplier and keep the supply chain active.

Evidence uncovered during the investigation included detailed accountancy ledgers kept by Parkinson himself, which outlined the pricing structure, profit margins, and quantities of drugs sold. This meticulous record-keeping demonstrated a level of professionalism rarely seen in street-level dealing, indicating that Parkinson’s operation was both lucrative and efficient. The police crackdown came in April of the previous year when officers observed Parkinson leaving the Park Plaza Hotel on London’s Embankment with a bag containing approximately £10,000 worth of crystal meth. This arrest was a significant breakthrough in the case.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Diane Parkinson at their Preston home. She was found with a box of pre-packaged powders ready for sale, along with £4,590 in cash. Her involvement was confirmed through messages on Parkinson’s pink iPhone, which revealed the full extent of their drug enterprise. The messages also exposed a darker side of Parkinson’s life—his sexual misconduct involving two 13-year-old boys. These revelations added a disturbing dimension to the case, highlighting the severity of his criminal activities.

At the Inner London Crown Court, Judge Michael Wood QC delivered the sentences. Parkinson received six years for multiple drug offences and an additional five years for the child sex offences, reflecting the gravity of his crimes. Diane Parkinson was sentenced to three years and four months for her role in the drug trafficking operation. Prosecutor Mathew Turner described Parkinson’s criminal enterprise as being run like a small business, with Parkinson as the central figure. Turner explained that Parkinson had abandoned his previous career and, upon his arrest, was operating a highly organized and profitable drug distribution network.

The court heard that Parkinson’s operation was not only dealing in controlled substances but also involved in disturbing sexual misconduct. Evidence showed that Parkinson had used a gay dating app, Grindr, to meet a 13-year-old boy, with whom he exchanged explicit images and later met for sexual encounters. He admitted to filming one of these encounters and kissing the boy on video. Although Parkinson claimed he was unaware of the boy’s age, he acknowledged that he had given money, alcohol, and cigarettes to another 13-year-old boy in exchange for sex, believing the boy to be 16. These admissions painted a troubling picture of his predatory behavior.

Parkinson, residing on Leyland Lane in Leyland, Preston, pleaded guilty to nine counts of conspiracy to supply various classes of drugs, as well as charges related to child sex offences. His mother, Diane Parkinson, of Warren Grove in Morecambe, also pleaded guilty to multiple drug possession charges, including possession with intent to supply and possession of criminal property. As part of his sentence, Parkinson was issued a sexual harm prevention order, which will restrict his activities upon release from prison, aiming to prevent any further harm and protect potential victims in the future.