Doherty lands welfare fund

The founder of a British clothing company has set up a welfare fund to help troubled rocker Pete Doherty.

The 'Babyshambles' frontman was jailed for 14 weeks on April 8 for "breach of time-keeping, non-compliance of his (probation) order and using different drugs".

The singer is also rumoured to be facing eviction from his English countryside home and mounting debts.

And now Stefano Passantino, founder of fashion website Lastseason.com, is dedicating all the proceeds from the sale of stripey t-shirts to the Pete Doherty Welfare Fund, which he plans to present to the star when he is released from London's Wormwood Scrubs prison.

Passantino insists he wants to help Doherty turn his life around and hopes the extra cash will come in handy.

He says: "The bloke's incredibly talented and as a musician he brings a lot of joy to people's lives. I am a big fan who wants to see this gifted bloke given every chance to get back on his feet again. I want to see Pete performing and writing new material for years to come.

"I'll do what I can to help Pete leave the bad stuff behind him. I'll give him a job, feed him, clothe him - but I won't wash him, that's asking too much."