Doherty 'in bloody brawl' after Rome gig

Doherty, 27, wrestled with the photographer as he hit him several times outside his hotel in Rome. Witnesses suggested the Babyshambles' frontman and boyfriend of supermodel Kate Moss had first jumped on top of the man and then repeatedly punched him.

The pair were finally dragged apart. The street brawl was witnessed by several female fans, invited back to the band's hotel following their gig at the city's famous Piper Club.

A photograph of the aftermath of the fight shows blood pouring from Doherty's wound. It is claimed other band members armed themselves with metal ashtrays to use as weapons in defence of the singer.

Police were not called and Doherty was treated at the scene by fans and band members. The photographer is understood to have gone to hospital for treatment and is said to be considering making an official complaint.

The concert - the last of five dates in Italy - did not go off without incident either, with one commentator suggesting it had not disappointed by living "down to expectations".

During the gig, Doherty spattered his bandmates with red wine, smashed a bottle, hurled a can of beer into the crowd and then "went after them" with a microphone stand.

At one stage, Babyshambles walked off stage after the drummer was hit by a bottle thrown from the crowd.

At the end Doherty pushed over amplifiers and the drum kit before smashing another microphone stand several times. He then lay amid the debris as if out for the count.

Moss will be relieved she had returned to London. She had appeared on stage in Milan and Florence, singing a duet with her boyfriend on La Belle Et La Bete, a song he wrote specially for her.

At the end of the Rome concert, Doherty did what every young man should do in Italy and jumped aboard a fan's scooter for a race around the city's clogged streets.

Even that he could not do without an obligatory brush with the law. It is illegal to ride a motorcycle in Italy without a helmet - which Doherty managed - and the Rome police may be after him for that too.

Babyshambles were due back in Britain today.

In December, the singer is due to be sentenced on five counts of possessing heroin, cocaine and cannabis. Last month, he avoided jail when a district judge said she was "impressed" by his attempts to come off drugs.