Doherty walks free on technicality

Pete Doherty walked free from court today after charges of breaching his bail were dropped.

Doherty, 28, was due to appear before West London Magistrates after he was arrested yesterday in Tower Hamlets, east London.

The charge of breaching conditional bail was dropped on a technicality as he was not produced before the court within 24 hours, prosecutor Anjulika Vatish said.

During a hearing which lasted just a couple of minutes, Ms Vatish said: "The court has no jurisdiction to deal with this matter any more."

District Judge Susan Williams agreed the court had no jurisdiction as Doherty had been arrested at 2.35am yesterday.

She said: “Anyone arrested for a breach of bail must be brought before the court and dealt with in a 24-hour period.”

Doherty left the court building today wearing his trademark black trilby.

He gestured at the waiting photographers and then jumped into a green Jaguar and was whisked away.

Doherty was held in custody at an east London police station last night ahead of his planned appearance today.

The latest allegations followed his arrest for suspected drug possession, hours after he performed at the V Festival.

Doherty took to the stage at the Festival in Staffordshire on Sunday night with his band Babyshambles.

One reviewer said Doherty finished the set by demolishing the drum kit after starting four hours late, at 10pm because of traffic.

Doherty had arrived at court this morning, gesturing at the media from a security van.

Less than two weeks ago, a judge told Doherty he must kick his drugs habit or go to jail.

The singer admitted driving illegally while in possession of crack, heroin, ketamine and cannabis in High Street, Kensington, west London.

Doherty, who enjoyed a high-profile relationship with supermodel Kate Moss, has undergone a stomach implant to help him kick drugs.