Doherty kicks out after drug court hearing

Troubled rock star Pete Doherty appeared to kick a reporter in the arm today in scenes of mayhem minutes after he admitted a batch of drug possession offences.

The 26-year-old Babyshambles frontman had just clambered on to a wall outside Thames Magistrates’ Court, in London, following his 20-minute hearing when he lashed out.

A microphone flew through the air as a BBC Radio 1 reporter clutched at her elbow.

Seconds later, he ran off down the street pursued by a 20-strong media posse.

Kate Moss’ former boyfriend, sporting his trademark trilby, then clambered over the boot of a waiting Jaguar XJ6 and hopped into the driving seat before nearly colliding with a red car as he tried to pull away from the kerb at high speed.

Earlier Doherty, whose light grey headgear matched his suit, had to push his way through a scrum of photographers to make his way to courtroom number three, nearly two hours late for the normal 9.30am court reporting time for defendants.