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Doherty fined for attack on reporter
Last updated at 12:48pm on 08.11.06
Fined: Pete Doherty arrives at court
Rock star Pete Doherty was today fined £750 after he admitted lashing out a female reporter outside a court.
The Babyshambles frontman had previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault by beating after he kicked out at Radio 1 Newsbeat's Trudi Barber.
Defence lawyer Sean Curran today said Doherty changed his plea on the day the trial was due to start after watching television footage of the attack which happened outside Thames Magistrates Court on March 23 following an appearance on another charge.
At the same court today, Justice of the Peace Helen Skinner fined Doherty £750 and ordered him to pay £250 compensation to Ms Barber and court costs of £200.
Sirah Abraham, for the Crown, said Doherty kicked out and made contact with Ms Barber's hand, knocking a microphone she was holding.
She said Ms Barber suffered pain to her hand which spread to her shoulder. A doctor prescribed her painkillers but she lost sleep from the pain.
Doherty refused to respond to police questions during an interview but did apologise for the incident although he described Ms Barber as a member of the "harassing scum of press".
Mr Curran said Doherty apologised if he had hurt Ms Barber, and pleaded guilty on the basis of recklessness.
He said: "He certainly had no malice towards the victim. What he did was reckless and very unfortunately she received injuries."
He added that Doherty had as recently as last week provided negative results in tests for both cocaine and opiates.
Sentencing Doherty Mrs Skinner said: "People in public life have a responsibility to behave and be a good role model to others.
"Referring to the press as scum does no one any favours.
"You were obviously courting publicity judging by your somewhat extravagant behaviour outside the court."
Doherty, dressed in a black coat and carrying a black trilby hat, told the court he could not pay the fine today, saying he did not have a credit card and had just 27p on him.
Mrs Skinner ordered that he make the whole payment within seven days.
Reader views (5)
I agree with all the comments so far. Who else other than Doherty would have got away with so much antisocial behaviour? I say lock him up.
- Cat, Paradise
A non celebrity would have gone to prison ages ago. But this idiot can go on abusing the law just as he likes. He and Kate are a great match.
- Lalla, Switzerland
When are these 'judges' going to realise that fining incredibly rich people the celebrity equivilant of a fiver isn't an incentive to curtail their behaviour? Prison for a year or two might, but I doubt it. He'd just write some pretentious poem about it and then release his autobiography about what a misunderstood genius he is. Yawn.
- Isabel, Woking, England
When is this idiot ever going to be put behind bars? Some of us are actually sick of hearing of his antisocial antics, then again if you take a look at all the other rubbish on the streets of this country, I dare say he consider's himself a shining role-model?
- Nick, London
Pete Docherty is a spoilt brat who will never grow up unless he is severely punished and sentenced for his crimes. For somebody who is constantly in the news for the his crimes, it is amazing that he has never being jailed.
- Billie Sadiku, Streatham London
