Doherty avoids prison sentence
Doherty avoids prison sentence
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Thursday, 20, Apr 2006 01:34
Rocker Pete Doherty has escaped a jail sentence after pleading guilty to seven charges of drug possession.
The 27-year-old Babyshambles frontman appeared for sentencing at Thames magistrates' court in London this morning.
Instead of a prison term, he has been handed a two-year supervision order, ordered to undergo an 18-month drug rehabilitation programme and banned from driving for six months.
Should Doherty breach any of these, he will almost certainly be hit with a jail sentence although Judge Jane McIvor voiced her hope that the musician will recover.
"It is going to be a long and slow process but you are showing significant signs of compliance and effort," she said.
His lawyer, Sean Curran, insisted Doherty's behaviour had improved of late and that he too was hopeful of a full recovery.
"I have noticed a significant improvement in his demeanour. He is fully appreciative of his surroundings and he is able to ask questions," he said.
"He is clearly in a better physical and mental position than he was when he started."
However, this will not be the last court appearance for Doherty, who was given a year-long order in February for separate drug charges.
He is due to attend another hearing on May 12th after failing to turn up last week for a review of his rehabilitation progress.