Drugs charges follow death of trainee doctor (From Daily Echo)

Drugs charges follow death of trainee doctor Doug Ferguson

4:30pm Friday 7th September 2012 in News By Bethan Phillips, Reporter

Doug Ferguson

A MAN has been charged with drugs offences following the death of a trainee doctor in Hampshire.

Doug Ferguson, 19, was taken ill at a house in Heathfield Road, Chandler’s Ford , and died later in hospital.

Police investigating his death arrested two males aged 19 and 17 on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs.

Alex Pearson, 20, from Chandler’s Ford, who was 19 at the time, has now been charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply a class A drug and one count of possession with intent to supply a class B drug.

The 17-year-old has been released without charge.

Doug, a former student at Peter Symonds College in Winchester and Thornden School, Chandler’s Ford, had been in his first year of studying medicine at the University of Bristol.

His family described him as a “fun-loving, popular young man who liked to live life to the full”.

Dozens of Doug’s friends gathered at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground in the aftermath of his death to light candles and release Chinese lanterns in his memory. Flowers and messages were left at the skate park, a favourite haunt of the young student, and notes were also written on the ramps.

An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is under way because officers were in contact with Doug, of Cranford Gardens, Chandler’s Ford, shortly before he died on Wednesday, June 27.

A spokesman for the IPCC said yesterday: “The investigation has gathered evidence from a number of witnesses and is progressing well.

“Once the investigation has concluded the final report will be shared with Mr Ferguson’s family and the coroner.”

The Mid-Hampshire coroner, based at Winchester, is currently investigating Doug’s death but a date for his inquest has not yet been set.

The results of a post-mortem examination shortly after Doug died were described by police as “inconclusive”.

Hampshire Constabulary said yesterday that results from further tests were not yet available.

Pearson is due to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 24.