Doherty judges jail... again

We've no wish to see people thrown in prison, but you have to wonder exactly what it would take to get Pete Doherty banged-up again. His ability to swerve prison makes Scooter Libby look like Norman Stanley Fletcher.

This time, the whole being-caught-with-drugs while under a court rehab programme, and driving offences, have been excused due to stress:

Doherty was arrested on May 5 this year after his car was stopped by officers in Kensington High Street, London.

The court heard he had herbal cannabis in a coat pocket and a rock of crack cocaine in his trouser pocket.

More drugs, including ketamine and heroin, were revealed when he was strip searched at a police station.

Mr Curran argued that the charges related to "small amounts" of illegal drugs and that the singer had been working extremely hard on his new album at the time of his arrest.

He told the court Doherty had also had "a difficulty in his personal life which led to him being caught in this situation where he was driving the vehicle".

Mr Curran said it was clear from Doherty's history and the fact he is already under a community order that he has for some time been addicted to drugs and specifically to crack and heroin.

Even more surprisingly, his brief managed to pull this one off, too:

Mr Curran told the court a long term addiction like Doherty's takes a long time to overcome.

He added: "I have acted for Mr Doherty for many years and before forthcoming court appearances I would submit his position does deteriorate slightly.

"He is panic stricken at the thought of custody. He has been on remand before and he does not present himself in a favourable light at court hearings."

Aha! The old 'he's only in trouble constantly with the courts because of the stress of being in trouble constantly with the courts' defence.

The judge decided to defer sentence to August 7 on condition that the singer did go into detox and did not commit any more offences but left him in no doubt he would face prison if he did not comply.

She said: "If you go to this place to have detox and take advantage of it then we will see what sentence is appropriate when you next come, but if you do not I can tell you now that you will go into custody."

He's going to Harrogate for a five-day detox programme the week after next; we're a little surprised at someone being sentenced to a week's holiday by the sea after being caught taking advantage of a generous court time after time.