Troubled rock star charged with cocaine possession after police investigated suspected overdose of Robin Whitehead

Rock star Pete Doherty failed to appear in court to face a charge of possessing cocaine following the death of an heiress in Hackney.

The former Libertines frontman was arrested after police investigated the suspected overdose of Robin Whitehead in a flat in Daubeny Road, Lower Clapton, in January last year.

Ms Whitehead, 27, who was the granddaughter of the late Teddy Goldsmith, a prominent environmentalist, had been filming a documentary on the singer.

Doherty, of Durley, Wiltshire, was due to appear at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday (January 15) along with two friends.

Alan Wass, 29, of Latimer Road, west London, is also charged with cocaine possession. Musician Peter Wolfe, 42, of Heath Road, Boughton Monchelsea, Kent, is accused of two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of supplying cocaine.

None were present at this week’s committal hearing.

The singer’s barrister, Peter Ratcliffe, said the 31-year-old had been excused from attending by earlier court documents.

Doherty, Wolfe and Wass are is now due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court for a second committal hearing on February 2.

All three men are expected to deny the charges.