Pete Doherty escapes with fine for bringing heroin to court

Pete Doherty was only given a fine today despite "stupidly" walking into a court with 13 wraps of heroin in his pocket.

The 30-year-old Babyshambles singer was arrested before Christmas in the corridor of Gloucester crown court, moments after he had been fined £2,050 for careless driving.

Kate Moss's former lover was escorted from the building when a security guard saw the Class A drugs fall from his pocket.

Doherty was given a £750 fine with £85 costs after a judge heard he was not "mickey taking" and had simply forgotten the drugs were in one of his many coats.

District Judge Joti Boparai ruled that as Doherty was paying for drug treatment privately it would not be worth taking money from the "public purse" to put him on a rehabilitation order. Judge Boparai said during today's hearing at Gloucester magistrates' court: "Either this was sheer stupidity or a ploy to get more publicity."

Doherty, of Durley, Wiltshire pleaded guilty to being in possession of four grams of heroin on 21 December last year.

Prosecutor Malcom Hayes said the new charge was due to the "vigilance" of security guard Richard Dando who had seen the packages, worth £192, fall to the floor. A search of Doherty's home near Marlborough later uncovered 15 wraps worth around £350.