4:24pm Thursday 17th July 2008
By Gazette Reporter
Magistrates today issued a warrant for the arrest of troubled rocker Pete Doherty after he failed to attend a court hearing on criminal damage charges - for the second time.
Babyshambles frontman Doherty, 29, who rents a cottage from the Earl of Cardigan in Savernake Forest, was expected to enter a plea after he allegedly attacked a female press photographer last summer.
It is alleged Doherty pulled a camera from the neck of 22-year-old Cath Mead as she took photographs of him and former girlfriend Irina Lazareanu.
He was charged with causing nearly #200 worth of damage to Mead's camera lens following the incident in Crewkerne, Somerset.
Magistrates at Yeovil, Somerset, issued a warrant for the arrest of Doherty without bail after he failed to appear for the second time.
Chairman of the bench Mr Nick Bernard said: ''I assume that this is the correct address we have for Mr Doherty.
''He should have, therefore, received the letters stating when he should attend court.'' Doherty, who has a long running history of drug and alcohol problems, is expected to be hauled before magistrates by the end of the week to enter a plea.
He also failed to attend a previous hearing relating to the same charge on June 26.
Doherty was jailed in April 2008 for 14-weeks for breaching a probation order after a string of drugs and driving offences.
He spent just seven weeks at Wormwood Scrubs in East London before he was granted early release due to overcrowding.
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