Doherty to appear in court drug treatment review

Rock star Pete Doherty will appear in court today after a judge previously said she was “optimistic” about his progress in beating his addiction to drugs.

The Babyshambles front man attended a review of a drug treatment order before District Judge Jane McIvor at Thames Magistrates’ Court in east London in January.

The judge told the singer that she was even more optimistic than she had been at his previous review in October and, as a result, his case need not be reviewed as frequently.

“I would like to think it’s more optimistic than the last review in October,” the district judge said previously.

She told Doherty that his doctor had referred to the “great effort” he was making to beat his addiction.

“But it’s a long process and there is another nine months to go,” she said.

“This is more optimistic but we cannot take the pressure off. It takes day-to-day effort.”

Defence counsel Bruce Clark agreed that Doherty’s progress was “encouraging”.

“Most people would have failed by now,” he told the judge.

Doherty was ordered to return to court today for another review hearing.