Addict Doherty begins third jail term in wake of heiress tragedy

The 32-year-old, who was due to be playing Glasgow Barrowland last night, was arrested in January last year by police investigating the suspected overdose death of heiress Robyn Whitehead.

The singer, of Camden High Street, north London, has twice been jailed before and has repeatedly admitted possession of class A substances.

A spokesman for the Barrowlands venue in Glasgow said the gig would be postponed until further notice.

Doherty, who has fronted indie bands Libertines and Babyshambles and has recently been touring as a solo artist, leaned forward in his seat as he was sentenced at east London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court but did not show any emotion as he was sentenced for the single count.

Judge David Radford said he had an “appalling record” of committing offences, having already made 13 other court appearances.

Peter Wolfe, 42, who had pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of supplying cocaine to Miss Whitehead, was sentenced to a total of 12 months in prison.

Judge Radford said: “The circumstances in which the committal of these offences which I have to deal with today is tragic. Police became aware of the relevant evidence because of the investigation which followed the discovery of the sad death of a young woman who had been present at the address where the offences had been committed. The offences involved the social supply of crack cocaine in a crack cocaine pipe, which you handed to that person.

“I make it clear though, abundantly clear, that the young woman’s death was not caused by that supply of crack cocaine.

“Unhappily and tragically that woman died from the poisoning of another illegal Class A drug which she had chosen to take.”

Miss Whitehead, 27, the granddaughter of the late Teddy Goldsmith, founder of The Ecologist magazine, spent the last 10 days of her life creating a documentary about Doherty.

Peter Ratliff, defending Doherty, said “He takes no pleasure in his addiction. It’s one thing he’s said publicly he would not wish upon his worst enemy.”