Doherty: I was hit by camera

Troubled rock star Pete Doherty has denied starting a fight with a photographer after a concert with his band Babyshambles in Rome.

London’s Evening Standard newspaper reported that Doherty was involved in a brawl with an Italian photographer outside his hotel.

One witness said Doherty’s head was “dripping with blood”.

Police were not called and Doherty was treated by fans and band members, while the photographer was said to have gone to hospital for treatment.

A spokesman for Doherty tonight released a statement denying the allegations and saying the singer had been hit with a camera.

“Pete Doherty totally denies that he instigated a fight with a photographer in Rome,” the statement said.

“Reports that the photographer might make an official complaint will certainly interest Pete’s lawyers, who can call on witnesses who clearly saw Pete being hit with a camera outside his hotel.”

Earlier in the night Doherty reportedly brandished a microphone stand at fans in the front row of the concert by his band Babyshambles in Rome.

Italian newspaper the Corriere della Sera described how Doherty, 27, clashed with fans at the famous Piper club.

A missile thrown from the crowd hit the band’s drummer, who was forced to leave the stage, and Doherty brandished the mike stand towards spectators in the front row. Nobody was injured.

After checking on how the drummer was, Doherty himself started playing the drums, but then the injured band member returned.

Doherty traded insults with the crowd, then after the final number he took the mike stand and smashed up the instruments on stage, including the amplifiers, the newspaper reported.

Doherty had been drinking vodka on stage, broke a bottle, cut himself with a sharp object and played on with blood on his chest, it added.