Pete Doherty managed to escape a prison term when he appeared at Thames Magistrate's court yesterday charged with drugs possession, then promptly got arrested, again, because he was in possession of drugs, again, with hours of leaving court.
In court to answer those previously reported charges, Doherty admitted to possessing heroin, crack and cannabis when he was stopped by police on 18 Dec last year, and again on 14 Jan. His solicitor, Sean Curran said: "I have noticed a significant improvement in his demeanour. He is fully appreciative of his surroundings and he is able to ask questions. He is clearly in a better physical and mental position than he was when he started."
Judge Jane McIvor agreed, saying he was showing "significant signs of compliance and effort", before sentencing him to a two year supervision order, 18 months in drug rehabilitation and a 6 month driving ban."It is going to be a long and slow process," she continued, adding that Doherty could still be sent to prison if he breaks the supervision order. He was ordered to return to court on 31 May for a review.
Of course, as it happens, he may be returning to court sooner due to the latest arrest, which took place in east London yesterday afternoon. Doherty was stopped by plain clothes police whilst travelling as a passenger with a 21 year old man. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "At 14.10 this afternoon two men, one aged 27 the other 21, were arrested after a vehicle was stopped in Roman Road, E2, by plain clothes officers in an unmarked police car on routine patrol. They were arrested on suspicion of possessing what was believed to be class A drugs with the intent to supply. Both men are currently being held in an East London police station. The older man was the passenger, the younger the driver."