Pete Doherty escapes jail

Aug 8, 2007, 11:20 GMT

08/07/2007 - Pete Doherty - Pete Doherty Sentencing At The West London Magistrates - West London Magistrates - London, England © Solarpix / PR Photos

Pete Doherty escaped jail again yesterday (07.08.07).

The Babyshambles rocker - who pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis and ketamine as well as two driving offences in July - had expected to be sentenced at West London Magistrates' Court, but instead was given four weeks to get himself drug-free or face a prison sentence.

District Judge Davinder Lachlar said: "What I have in mind is to adjourn this matter for four weeks to assess his motivation

"What I have in mind is a community order or prison. If he does not show the motivation in four weeks it will be prison - it's as simple as that."

Judge Lachlar previously ordered 28-year-old Doherty - who was stopped by police in Kensington High Street, west London, on May 5 - to undergo a detox treatment at a hearing last month.

The singer's lawyer Sean Curran said his client had been attending a detox programme for about a week, and Doherty even offered to show the court the implant in his stomach, designed to help him give up drugs.

The judge did not impose a fine on Doherty, despite him testing positive for drugs, saying it was still too early to see results of the detox.

Doherty, wearing a black coat and his trademark trilby hat, arrived at court accompanied by his mother.

The hellraiser was advised to stay with a family member to aid his recovery, but the star, who is estranged from his father, said after the hearing: "I can't stay with my mother, because by dad is there."

Doherty was released on conditional bail until his pre-sentence hearing on September 4.

(C) BANG Media International