Tony Pike (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 4 minutes ago
A 23-year-old who admitted dealing Class A drugs was caught out by his own merchandise – after a bag of white powder he believed to be cocaine was identified by forensic scientists as nothing more than bicarbonate of soda.
Tony Pike, of Knox Street, Margam, Port Talbot, was handed a 33-month prison sentence at Swansea Crown Court for his involvement in supplying cocaine and heroin.
The bogus bag
Pike had initially entered a guilty plea to possessing cocaine with intent to supply, based on a bag of white powder discovered at his home. A field test carried out by officers at the scene came back positive for cocaine.
However, once full forensic laboratory analysis was completed after his plea, the substance was confirmed to be bicarbonate of soda. Prosecutor Georgia Donohue asked the court to set aside that guilty plea, and when the charge was put to Pike again he pleaded not guilty. The prosecution offered no evidence on that count.
How police identified Pike
The investigation began in early 2026 when officers analysed messages recovered from a mobile phone seized during a separate drugs inquiry. Those conversations led detectives to identify Pike as being involved in drug supply.
Armed with a search warrant, police attended Pike’s home on March 31 this year. He was not present, but officers recovered three sets of weighing scales, a quantity of snap-seal bags, and the bag of white powder.
Pike was contacted by phone and returned home, where he was arrested. His cautioned reply was: “I don’t know how to supply Class A drugs.”
Phone evidence
Analysis of Pike’s own phone revealed numerous text exchanges in which he offered both cocaine and heroin for sale in various quantities. One message from a contact asked whether Pike would “swap” a deal of heroin for a different drug.
Defence arguments
Jon Tarrant, representing Pike, told the court his client had been dealing Class A substances for a relatively short time and at a low level “to a circle of friends”. He described Pike as a young man “struggling to find his place in the world” who had the backing of his family. Mr Tarrant said time spent on remand had been an “entirely new experience” for Pike, the effect of which “has been palpable”.
The court heard Pike had one previous conviction, dating from 2022, for driving without due care and attention, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and driving without insurance.
Sentencing
Recorder Simon Hughes described the circumstances of the case as “grimly familiar” to the court. He told Pike that “it is a matter of considerable regret that you find yourself facing these extremely serious charges”, given everything he had read and heard about the defendant’s background.
The recorder said Pike had clearly “lost his way” in life but expressed hope that with his family’s support he could find his way back to the right path.
Pike received a one-quarter reduction for his guilty pleas, resulting in a sentence of 33 months. He will serve 40% of that term in custody before being released on licence to complete the remainder in the community.
