Father of hanged teenager admits dealing cannabis to pay debts
A FATHER whose son accidentally hanged himself has been spared jail after admitting possessing and supplying cannabis.
Steven Doig was caught when a search warrant was carried out at his home in Birkland Avenue, Arboretum, on January 26 this year.
Doig, 37, pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply and was given a 42-week custodial sentence, which was suspended for one year.
Judge Michael Stokes QC told him: "Your circumstances were particularly tragic, but that's not a circumstance you will be able to rely on in future."
Doig's 13-year-old son, Jordan, was found hanged in his bedroom in June 2008.
Nottingham Crown Court heard that Steven Doig was suffering from depression, meaning he could not work.
He decided to sell cannabis to pay a debt which he owed.
When police found the drugs in his home, he told them: "All the cannabis belongs to me. I'm the guilty party in this. I've got a reason for doing this. Don't charge my Mrs."
Doig gave a detailed interview to police, explaining that he had been selling the drug for up to six months.
He said he had been showing the cannabis to people when police went round, and that he sold it for £10 for 2.2 grams.
He was caught with 290 grams of the drug, which he said he paid £325 for.
The prosecution estimated that he would have made £800 from selling it on.
Cash adding up to £405 was also recovered from the home and from Doig himself, at the police station.
Doig, who the judge said had been "somewhat fortunate" on this occasion, must also carry out 120 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community.
He is in receipt of incapacity benefit for his depression, but a probation officer said he would still be suitable for carrying out unpaid work, as long as it is under 16 hours a week.
Judge Stokes made an order for the cannabis to be destroyed and for the £405 to be forfeited.
The Doig family lived in Mansfield Grove, Arboretum, when Jordan hanged himself. He was a pupil at Djanogly City Academy. Notts Coroner Dr Nigel Chapman recorder a verdict of accidental death.
Dr Chapman said at the inquest: "Going through all the evidence we have, this is a tragic accident. He was playing a game that has gone wrong."
At the time, Jordan's father told the Post that he believed his son's actions were a cry for help.
8 Comments
by anonymous, Nottingham
Monday, September 06 2010, 3:03PM
“you don't know the man, this article goes on implying that he was let off because of Jordan. that is totally not true, this reporter gets off from getting a story from other peoples grief. Yes he did sell illegal drugs and no matter what excuse it was up to the court to decide what his punishment was, however HOW has that got anything to do with the tragic accident that took our 13 year old jordan away from us? did he really need to be mentioned in this article, when it was about his father, and when his 4 brothers saw it, they where as horrifired and saddend as i am. Jordan isn't here to clear his name or to give any sort of imput into this, soo why bring the poor boys name into it, it was uneccasery and pointless. steve was only doing it to get some money, yes it was illegal but he wasn't getting youth to go out and sell it, he wasn't causing anyone grief from doing it, and yes it was illegal, and he confessed to it, but it was up to the court to decide what his punishmentn was, not you lot, and my self and many others have seen steve's illness, in and out off hospital, operations, but does sitting at home on a chair or whatever weighing some "herbs" out, sound like any full time, up working job. don't victimise people if you don't know them, when there are plenty more drug dealers out there, selling worser drugs in worser ways, and plenty of other peope living of benefit, there all around us.”
by jay lee, hyson green
Saturday, September 04 2010, 11:10PM
“JOKE from start to finish. Send this man down and make him pay back all monies paid by the SS. Too ill to work but can run his own Little business on the side. WHAT A JOKE!”
by daniel, k in a
Saturday, September 04 2010, 9:57PM
“hes only providing a service for the dope heads, chill out man”
by Ian, Hyson Green
Friday, September 03 2010, 2:35AM
“I totally agree with Lesta, our laws are a joke hence the reason our streets are no longer safe.”
by Lesta, Lace Market
Thursday, September 02 2010, 10:52PM
“If he can source illegal drugs, weigh them into saleable deals, contact customers, sell the illegal drugs and take the money then he's not too ill to work as he's already working, albeit, illegally. Strip him of his benefits and jail him for three years hard labour minimum.
NuLiebour were weak on crime and now we have the soft Clarke Coalition who are weak on crime.”
by Bill Lawrenson, Keyworth
Thursday, September 02 2010, 3:29PM
“OnHols, obviously the Probation Officer felt that a little community work of less than 16 hours a week would be therapeutic and help get him out of his depression. This is vastly different from a doctor certifying that someone is incapable of continuous full time paid work.”
by On Hols, Nottingham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 12:10PM
“So the person is on incapcity benefits and has been diagnosed by a qualified Medicaly trained Doctor saying he is unfit for work,but a probation officer said he would still be suitable for carrying out unpaid work, Mmmmm?”
by JuniorWarden, Wollaton Park
Thursday, September 02 2010, 11:01AM
“I've heard some 'excuses' for drug dealing before, but this one 'takes the biscuit'!”