Doherty pleads guilty to drug charges

Singer Pete Doherty pleaded guilty today to possessing heroin and cocaine.

The Babyshambles frontman appeared before Ealing Magistrates' Court in west London, where he admitted two charges of possessing Class A drugs which were found when police stopped his car nearby on November 30.

The court heard that the former Libertines singer was spotted at the wheel of a Jaguar on Cleveland Road breaking the speed limit and was stopped by police.

Prosecutor Bryony Darbyshire told the magistrates that police noticed that he appeared to be under the influence of "something" with his eyes glazed and pupils dilated.

The officers told the singer, whose on-off relationship with supermodel Kate Moss had been in the headlines, that they were going to search the car and he admitted that they would find drugs.

Ms Darbyshire told the court that officers found a total of three packets containing 0.875gm (0.03oz) of heroin and one packet of cocaine, weighing 0.234gm (0.008oz).

Ms Darbyshire told the court that Doherty had been taken to a police station and tested for drugs and proved positive for cocaine and opiates.

Doherty, who was wearing a dark overcoat and cream sweater over a black T-shirt, arrived at the court one hour and 10 minutes after he was listed to appear.

After hearing brief mitigation from Eamonn Sherry, defending, the chair of the magistrates, Gurdev Singh Dadral demanded an explanation for the singer's late appearance.

Mr Sherry told the court that his client apologised sincerely adding: "Mr Doherty travelled in a car and he had traffic difficulties and I am told was being followed by a number of other individuals.

"Given the press activity that there is in relation to this gentleman that is the reason."