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Pete Doherty held over suspected drugs collapse on BA jet
By Georgina Littlejohn, London Lite Last updated at 13:59pm on 08.06.09Singer Pete Doherty was arrested after he was allegedly caught taking drugs on a plane.
Arrested: Swiss police met Pete Doherty's flight at Geneva airport after he was found slumped in one of the plane's loos
The troubled 30-year-old was held at Geneva airport in Switzerland on Friday after he was found slumped in a lavatory on a British Airways flight.
He was believed to be intoxicated and was taken back to his seat, but flight staff alerted police when they later found a hypodermic needle, which they wrapped in tissue.
One passenger said: "He went to the bathroom more than halfway into the flight. He had been in there for about 25 minutes when the announcement came for the crew to prepare for landing.
"They knocked on the door but Pete didn't come out. They eventually managed to get in 10 minutes before the plane landed."
A BA spokesman said: "Swiss police met BA730 from Heathrow to Geneva on Friday and a man was arrested."
A Geneva police spokesman said: "A passenger was charged but I cannot say what with. He paid a fine and was allowed to go."
Doherty who has been battling drug addiction, including to heroin, for several years, performed later that evening at the Neuchâtel Open Air Festival.
The Babyshambles frontman then flew back to London on Saturday and played at Camden's Underworld club as part of the Camden Rocks festival.
Reader views (3)
Um, how does the country's most recognisable junkie get to smuggle class a drugs through security? Surely you'd get the sniffer dogs out when you saw him coming?
- Lewis, London
What a washed out has-been.
I say "has-been" was he ever really anything of any worth?
- Kai, West Mids, UK
What a shame they couldn't have flushed him down the loo!!
- Paul, London
