A former Tata Steel worker and his son have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, landing in prison after running a cocaine supply operation. David Pickersgill, 63, and his son Stefan, 30, were so committed to their illegal business that they even made time for it on Christmas Day. The duo’s downfall began when police, investigating another drug ring, stumbled upon their connections through a dealer’s phone records.
In early March, raids at their Port Talbot homes uncovered cocaine worth £15,000, ecstasy tablets, cash, and drug paraphernalia. Both men confessed to their roles in the operation, with the court hearing how David “helped” his son when he wasn’t available. This father-son crime spree left the judge at Swansea Crown Court calling it a “dispiriting” scene, telling them both they should feel deep shame.
The court examined the tragic journey that led Stefan into dealing, a path familiar to those entangled in drug use leading to debt. References submitted painted a picture of Stefan as a hard-working dad, a strong contrast to the charges he faced. Meanwhile, David had led an unblemished life before this, having worked in civil engineering and security.
Both received significant prison sentences: Stefan was sentenced to 81 months, and David to 63 months, each set to serve half their terms behind bars before moving to community sentences. The story is a stark reminder of how quickly life’s path can change, leading one from honest work to the depths of the criminal underworld.