British rocker to do service, not time, for drug possession

SINGER Pete Doherty, former boyfriend of model Kate Moss, was sentenced Wednesday to 12 months of community service for possessing drugs.

Doherty, the 26-year-old frontman of the group Babyshambles, pleaded guilty to the charges on Jan. 27. He had been arrested three times between Nov. 30 and Jan. 26.

Judge Ann McLaughlin warned Doherty that if he broke the drug rehabilitation requirement of his community service order, he might go to jail. The maximum sentence for possession of drugs such as heroin and cocaine is seven years in prison.

Doherty told the British Broadcasting Corp.’s Radio One that he planned to have an implant to help him stay off heroin. “As far as drugs are concerned, it’s simple: I’d rather be on the out with no smack than inside prison with no smack,” he said.

The singer became upset when asked if he thought being famous had helped him avoid jail. “What do you think I’ve been doing for the last 12 days? Picking tulips?” he said. “I’ve been sat in a cell sweating it out, fully aware of the circumstances.”

Moss, 31, lost modeling contracts last year after the Daily Mirror tabloid published pictures of her allegedly using cocaine in a studio where Doherty, then her boyfriend, was recording with Babyshambles.