Doherty's deal: A round-up

So, apparently Pete Doherty was able to keep out of jail because he told the judge he was about to sign a big record deal, which may make some sort of sense. Although sincey having lost a deal didn't send him inside, we're not quite sure how that helps.

The Sun has found an outraged person:

Gaille McCann, of Mothers Against Drugs, said: “Others get banged up. He deserves jail.”

Unfortunately, the paper doesn't find room to explain how, exactly, sending him into a drug-packed jail system would help. Or, indeed, if that would have been the idea.

The Mirror reports that - according to witnesses - he spent the run-up to yesterday's court appearance, um, relaxing:

On Sunday night the Babyshambles singer caused mayhem in The Washington pub in North London, hurling pint glasses dangerously close to punters and crashing into tables.

Three days earlier Pete, 27, ripped down light fittings, smashed mirrors, upturned furniture and smeared blood on the walls at the £200-a-night Malmaison Hotel.

The junkie rocker - who checked in with a mystery female pal - also set off fire alarms and had a fight.

Presumably this was to prove he was still a rock star in some way.

The Daily Record notices that none of this made it into his defence:

Sean Curran, defending, told Thames Magistrates' Court that Doherty, 27, of London, was also arrested last month on suspicion of possessing class A drugs. He has not been charged as the substances are still being tested.

But the lawyer said: "He was in a multi-occupied vehicle."

Mr Curran added that Doherty's life had improved.

He continued: "My client is doing well. He has an EP released today, there's a tour scheduled.

"And they are on the verge of signing a substantial record deal which should be signed before Christmas."

District judge Jane McIvor, who at an earlier hearing revealed she was a fan of Doherty's music, said: "The offences are not so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.

"Hitting your pocket is the best way of punishing you. I am also going to disqualify you from driving for four months."

But we're a little puzzled - if the idea was to "hit him in the pocket", why was the fine only a few hundred quid at a time when he's supposedly about to sign a "big deal" and - according to The Sun - splashing £6000 on some paintings?

Hecklerspray isn't alone in thinking this all starting to get, well, a little samey:

In the space of just over a year he's gone from being the critic's dirty-fingernailed darling to a widely-regarded spuff-monkey, but it can't just be because Pete Doherty's music is rubbish, can it? [...]

Maybe this will be the last time that Pete Doherty will find himself in legal trouble over the possession of drugs. On the other hand there are still 27 days left of 2006, so it's possibly fair to expect him getting arrested another dozen or so times by then.

The Telegraph reports exactly what was in the car with beautiful precision:

Doherty, who has been in rehab to battle his drug addiction, pleaded guilty to possession of 0.05oz (1.4 grams) of cannabis, 0.06oz (1.82g) of cocaine, 0.05oz (1.37g) of heroin, 0.03oz (0.9g) of cannabis and a quantity of crack cocaine.

That precise 0.05oz measure was made possible by their wonderful digital hub.

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