Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty breezed through a review today (March 8) in London of his sentence for possessing hard drugs, despite twice failing drug tests last month. “You’re doing quite well but you need to keep it up,” Magistrate Jane McIvor told the 26-year-old rocker. “I will see you in five weeks.”
On Feb. 8, Doherty, who rose to fame with the Libertines, was sentenced to 12 months of community service and ordered to undergo a drug rehabilitation program. He was warned that he could be sent to jail if he didn’t comply with the rehab order.
During his brief appearance in Thames Magistrates Court, there was no mention of his Feb. 27 arrest in Birmingham on suspicion of car theft and possessing hard drugs, nor of the additional drug charges lodged against him yesterday by police in London.
Doherty briefly hugged fans assembled outside the east London court and joked with reporters about his recent troubles on the way in. Upon leaving court, he quickly lit a cigarette and hurried to a waiting car.
The artist appeared restless during his brief court appearance and, while listening to McIvor’s instructions, frequently placed his hands behind his head and moved around in apparent frustration. McIvor did offer Doherty good news, however, calling his improvement “remarkable” and adding that his “determination is increasing.”
Outside court, Doherty’s lawyer, Sean Curran, said the rocker had tested positive for drugs on Feb. 23 and Feb. 28. Curran gave no details of the tests. It was mentioned in court that Doherty had undergone tests, but there was no reference to testing positive.
When a reporter asked Doherty whether he would quit using drugs, he answered, “What? Them? Sure, I’ll do that.”
He was released on bail in the Birmingham incident, and so far has not been charged, West Midlands Police said.
Yesterday, Doherty was hit with seven further charges of possessing crack cocaine and heroin, related to incidents in December and January. He’s due back in court tomorrow to answer those charges.
Metropolitan Police charged Doherty with possessing heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and hashish when he was arrested on Dec. 18 and with possessing heroin, cocaine and marijuana when he was arrested on Jan. 14.
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